Your Comprehensive Guide to Tooth Extractions: Everything You Need to Know

Having all your teeth is an amazing feeling. Nothing beats having a natural smile with a full set of teeth. However, not everyone is blessed to enjoy the company of their pearly whites for a lifetime.

Even though your teeth are fashioned from a sturdy substance, enamel, there are times when you need dental surgery in Toronto, for a tooth removal. As you know by now, there are a host of solutions for decayed or damaged teeth. But at times, all these methods fall short, and the only road that can be taken is seeking tooth extraction services.

Even though tooth extractions can be necessary on some occasions, they are not a dreadful affair. With the dental technology available today, dental surgery in Toronto is a painless and swift affair.

When Is It Necessary for You to Get Your Teeth Extracted?

Tooth removal isn’t exciting, even for dentists. The top priority for our dentists is to save your natural teeth at all costs. However, if this option isn’t possible or might jeopardize your oral health, then we have to pull your teeth.

This is essential to bear in mind so that you don’t insist on saving your natural teeth when the restorative options cannot repair the teeth. Therefore, our dentist may deem tooth extraction necessary under the following circumstances:

• If you have tooth decay that has damaged most of the tooth and has gone deep into your tooth
• Extra teeth that hinder permanent teeth from erupting
• A broken tooth that is beyond repair
• Periodontitis (gum disease) that has destroyed most of the surrounding bone that holds the tooth
• If you need orthodontic treatment and you have overcrowded teeth, then extracting some teeth will be a must
• If you have impacted teeth, meaning that they haven’t yet fully erupted. You will experience this problem with wisdom teeth.
• If you have an abscessed tooth and root canal therapy cannot save the tooth

How to Prepare for a Tooth Extraction

Our oral surgeon will take an X-ray of your teeth during your initial appointment before booking you for the procedure. This is done to ascertain the extent of the damage and verify whether the procedure is necessary.

At the same time, you have to inform our dentist whether you are taking any medication, even supplements. Plus, if you are scheduled for treatment for another problem, ensure that you have notified our dentist so that the extraction can be carried out before going for the other treatment.

Besides the above, you need to know the following:

• Don’t smoke before coming in for the procedure
• If you are getting general anesthesia, come with someone who will drive you home
• Don’t drink or eat for at least six hours if you are getting IV anesthesia
• If you have a cold or flu, tell our dentist beforehand so that you can reschedule

What Is the Tooth Extraction Process?

Depending on what the X-ray reveals, our dentist may perform either of these two types of extractions:

Simple Extraction

When you are scheduled for a simple extraction, this means that the tooth to be extracted is visible. Our dentist will administer local anesthesia to the area surrounding the tooth. This will numb the area so that the procedure is pain-free.

Then, our dentist will use an elevator and a set of forceps to loosen and remove the affected tooth.

Surgical Extraction

A surgical extraction is typically a bit more complex than a simple extraction since it involves removing teeth that are not visible. The teeth may be damaged or haven’t erupted. Our oral surgeon will administer anesthesia so that the procedure can be comfortable and pain-free.

Then, close to the affected tooth, an incision will be made so that it becomes easier to remove the damaged tooth.

After the Extraction

Tooth extraction care is essential if you are to prevent an infection. Our dentist will place a gauze at the extraction site after the procedure, which you will bite down. After 45 minutes or an hour, you can remove the gauze. The purpose of the gauze is to promote blood clotting and limit bleeding.

It’s normal to feel some discomfort and pain, which can be controlled by some prescribed painkillers.

For you to heal as you should, you have to adhere to our dentist’s instructions strictly. Typically, extractions don’t take long, and the procedure is painless. Contact our dentist at Toronto East Maxillofacial Surgery if you need any dental help.