Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. It is a relatively short procedure requiring no hospital admissions.A local anaesthetic injection is given to eliminate pain during the procedure. The decision to extract is taken with your dentist after considering all other options and discussing any medical condition you have. Tooth extraction can be simple or surgical. The extraction is surgical and more complex when the tooth is impacted; this means that the tooth has failed to erupt fully.
- Excessive tooth decay which has affected the pulp
- Crowded teeth, for orthodontic treatment
- Disease of the tissues around the tooth
- In people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant or heart surgery, teeth that could become a source of infection are extracted.
- In adults, primary teeth that have failed to fall out in time
- Impacted teeth may get infected or cause other problems
WHAT TO EXPECT
The dentist will introduce himself and explain the procedure to you. He will discuss an x-ray of the tooth with you and obtain your consent to extract it. The procedure is relatively short and usually requires no hospital admissions. You will be given a local anesthesia injection to eliminate pain during the procedure. The procedure usually requires a follow-up visit about one week after.
- Make sure you don’t drive or operate any heavy machinery right after the procedure.
- Book your follow-up appointment before you leave the clinic
- Inform the dentist if you experience any pain, bleeding or discomfort after you arrive home. If the extraction site starts to bleed, bite on a folded white handkerchief for 15-30 minutes. If the bleeding continues, return to the dental clinic
- Comply with the post-procedure instructions and medications
Usually, the extraction procedure is painless. Some pain will be experienced while the local anesthesia injection is given
The numbness usually wears out at about one to one-and-a-half hours after the local anesthesia is given