Tooth extractions
Troublesome Teeth
At Buckwalter Dental Care, Bluffton dentist, Dr. Joel Darrah, uses the latest in minimally-invasive dental techniques to extract teeth quickly, and with almost no discomfort.
Tooth extractions are most common for wisdom teeth, because around 85% of all Americans have their wisdom teeth removed. Extractions may also be required in cases of advanced tooth decay or periodontal disease.
If you have a painful tooth that may need to be extracted, contact us right away. If you’d like to learn more about extraction services from our Bluffton general dentistry practice, keep reading!
Why are
Wisdom teeth usually removed?
Wisdom teeth make up the overwhelming majority of tooth extractions. They are your third and final set of molars, which grow in from the age of 18-25.
Most of us do not have enough room in our mouths for this final set of molars. This means that, when they grow in, they can cause our other teeth to shift, or they can become “impacted” and won’t fully erupt.
In turn, this causes pain, and can even result in infection of the gum or tooth. To avoid this, most people usually have their wisdom teeth extracted.
However, wisdom teeth do not always need to be removed. If you’re not sure that your wisdom teeth need to be removed, we recommend that you consult with Dr. Joel Darrah of Buckwalter Dental Care in Blufton.
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how does the
Tooth extraction process work?
Tooth extraction is a very fast procedure, and Dr. Darrah uses advanced numbing agents and techniques to minimize discomfort.
First, the tooth that will be treated is numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, using specialized dental tools, he will widen the socket and loosen the tooth from your gum. Then, Dr. Darrah uses extraction forceps to grab the tooth and pull it out. After this, the extraction site is cleaned and disinfected, and stitched up to encourage healing.
The process only takes a few minutes for each tooth. Most patients feel no pain at all during the procedure, though some discomfort is typical during recovery.
how long does it take
To recover from tooth extraction?
The recovery process is usually quite brief. For a day or two after the extraction, you can expect some discomfort and bleeding from the extraction site. Bleeding can be treated by a moistened gauze pad, and should stop within 24-48 hours of extraction.
Pain is usually treated with prescribed painkillers for the first day after surgery, and then over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen can be used. Pain should be minimal after 3-5 days post-surgery.
Typically, by the third day after your procedure, you should be feeling relatively normal. As long as you follow Dr. Darrah’s instructions, such as avoiding solid foods and the use of straws, you should easily recover in just a few days. Make sure to follow all recovery instructions closely to ensure that you do not experience any complications, like dry sockets or torn stitches.
Are There Alternatives to
An Extraction?
This depends on the reason for extracting the tooth and the severity of the condition. If extraction is being considered because of dental trauma or an infection, the tooth may be salvageable by treating the damaged dental pulp with a root canal and protecting the tooth with a dental crown.
However, root canal therapy is not always viable. If there is a crack in the root of the tooth or the tooth is too severely damaged and cannot be restored, you may need an extraction. We will always fight to preserve the health of your teeth and will never advise that you have a tooth extracted unnecessarily.
When an extraction is called for, we can replace the tooth with a variety of tooth restorations so no one notices the difference. Wisdom teeth only need to be extracted when they are impacted or x-rays show that they will cause future problems. If they erupt properly, they do not necessarily need to be removed.
Do Tooth Extractions
Hurt?
No, this is because your mouth will be completely numb from the anesthetic. Depending on the type of extraction, additional sedation may also be used, in which case you may not remember the procedure at all.
While the actual procedure will not cause any pain, you may feel some residual tenderness, tooth sensitivity, or minor pain once the anesthetic has worn off. This is normal and pain should greatly reduce over the next few days.
If the pain becomes worse or is severe, contact us right away. This could be a sign of a very painful condition known as dry socket, which occurs when blood clots have been dislodged or never formed.
What Foods and Drinks
Can I Eat After Tooth Extraction?
There are a few main rules to keep in mind when it comes to eating and drinking after tooth extraction. Those are:
- Stick to soft foods
- Avoid hard and chewy foods
- Do not drink through a straw for the first 24 hours
- Try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth
- Avoid hot foods and drinks for 24 hours
With these main rules in mind, you can mostly eat and drink whatever you’d like. You must be careful in the first 24 hours following the extraction. Hot, spicy, and acidic foods should be avoided on the first day.
All forms of suction need to be avoided in the first 24 hours to prevent dry socket, so do not drink through a straw. We recommend eating a soft food diet such as mashed potatoes, pudding, applesauce, soup, yogurt, and oatmeal. For the first week, you should not eat crunchy or chewy foods like carrots, meat, cookies, chips, or popcorn.
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trust Buckwalter Dental Care
For the tooth extractions in Blufton!
Whether you need a wisdom tooth extracted, or you suspect that you have an infected tooth that may need to be removed, Dr. Darrah of Buckwalter Dental Care is one of the best dentists in Bluffton. Contact us at (843) 815-3232, or visit our Bluffton office at 31 Innovation Drive Unit 2, Bluffton, SC 29910.
