Ideally, Dr. Moore will find a way to save your original tooth. In the event it’s severely decayed or damaged, however, an extraction may be necessary. Although tooth extractions get a bad reputation, they’re actually painless, straightforward procedures.
There are a number of benefits you can expect with a tooth extraction. If you have decaying teeth in your mouth or are at high risk for a serious infection, this procedure may protect you from facing serious oral health problems. These problems may lead to tooth loss.
The Tooth Extraction Procedure
Once he administers anesthesia, Dr. Moore will do one of two things. He’ll either suction off parts of the tooth before he removes it with forceps or trim away some of the gum tissue to allow for easier removal. You should feel minimal to no pain or discomfort throughout the entire process. Our Richmond, VA dentist friends at River Run Dental are some of the best when it comes to having comfort from the second you walk in the door until you leave.
Tooth Extraction Recovery
After a tooth extraction, your gums will be on their way to healing. However, you’ll need to be extra careful with the empty tooth socket. Dr. Moore will suggest you don’t touch the treated area or drink through a straw. You should also stick to soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, pudding, and applesauce. These precautions will reduce your risk of dry socket, which occurs when the blood clot doesn’t develop or dissolves before the wound has had a chance to heal. Lakewood, Colorado emergency dentist Dr. Brian Levitin expresses that it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to oral or dental surgery. Take your time getting back into the swing of things.
If you experience any unusual symptoms, be sure to reach out to our office right away. These symptoms may be vomiting, redness and swelling, fever and chills, cough, difficulty breathing, or chest pain.
Numbness Will Last Several Hours
If your mouth and gums feel numb for several hours after a tooth extraction, don’t worry as this is completely normal. In fact, you should expect to feel numb for about 10 to 12 hours following the procedure.
There are a number of ways you can manage this numbness. First and foremost, don’t chew on the numb side of your mouth. If you do, you may risk biting your tongue or lip by accident. Also, refrain from hot beverages as you may burn your mouth by accident.
If you’d like to reduce numbness as soon as possible, gently massage the affected area. You can also go for a walk, take a yoga class, or participate in another physical activity to increase blood flow. Rinsing your mouth with salt water may help as well. The Raleigh flouride varish dentists encourage all patients to get the blood flowing but don’t go out and do wind sprints right after going to the dentist.
You may also want to simply take a nap and relax. This way you won’t be thinking about the numbness and can wait for it to subside. It’s important to be patients and understand that numbness will not automatically go away. Allow it to naturally wear off on its own and use these remedies to help speed up the process if you’d like.
Schedule an Appointment at Moore Family Dentistry
If you have any further questions about tooth extractions or would like to schedule an appointment at our Garner, NC office, don’t hesitate to contact us today at 919-772-1811. We look forward to hearing from you!
