Tooth Extractions, Dentist Livingston NJ
The determination may be made that you require a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
Our office provides a comfortable atmosphere for the removal of your tooth. We offer nitrious oxide and local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, our Livingston NJ dentists Drs. John and Jason Hamberger will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.
After Extraction Home Care
Bleeding
After an extraction some bleeding may occur. Your home care should include placing a piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45 minutes can control this. Contact our office if you have any complications at any point after treatment.
Healing
After extraction it is important to maintain the blood clots which forms in the empty socket. This is an important part of the healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot. Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
- Avoid use of a straw, smoking or hot liquids.
Eating
For most extractions it is best for you to do your chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A soft cold diet may be recommended for 24 hours.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction, avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site. Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.
Dry Socket
Dry socket occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged, and the healing is significantly delayed.
Following the post extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn’t appear until three or four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath and the extraction site appears dry.
Drs. John and Jason Hamberger will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket to sooth the pain if necessary.
Recovery
After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or months. However, after 1-2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.