You only get one set of natural adult teeth. That’s why Dr. Gabriel does everything he can to try and save them. But some teeth can be more detrimental than beneficial to your smile. In these cases, Dr. Gabriel may recommend they be removed to keep the rest of your teeth safe and healthy.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually grow in during the late teens to early 20’s. While these teeth provided additional chewing power for our ancestors, the modern human jaw is often too small to accommodate them.
If your jaw is too small for these extra teeth, they may push your other teeth out of place or the wisdom teeth can even grow sideways and cause a myriad of troubles. Dr. Gabriel can assess the status of your wisdom teeth and determine if you need any extractions.
If root canal therapy can’t save your tooth from infection, the tooth must be extracted. Removal prevents the spread of harmful bacteria to your other teeth or to other parts of your body. If the infection spreads to your body, it can make you very sick.
When a tooth infection goes undetected or untreated for too long, you may experience extreme pain. The infection must be treated immediately, whether by emergency root canal therapy or an extraction. If your tooth is causing immense pain for you, call our office at (724) 935-2100 so we can schedule an immediate appointment for you.
Before your procedure begins, Dr. Gabriel will ensure you don’t feel pain during the extraction by administering a local anesthetic. He can also provide several levels of sedation to ease you through the process.
Dr. Gabriel will first loosen your tooth to make it easier to remove, then take the tooth out. After the tooth is extracted, he’ll care for the socket by removing any leftover tissue or bone. Gauze may be placed to help reduce bleeding.
After your extraction, we recommend that you:
Dr. Gabriel will give you detailed instructions on caring for your extraction site. Proper care is essential for healing and can help you avoid infections and other potential issues. If you have any questions about extraction aftercare, call us at (724) 935-2100.
Proper care helps to reduce your potential for issues after your extraction, but sometimes they do develop. It’s important to learn the signs of these complications so you can seek immediate treatment if they affect you.
Your empty tooth socket is extremely vulnerable to infections because it’s unprotected. Signs of infection after extraction are:
If you notice these signs after you’ve had an extraction, it’s vital to seek help. Dr. Gabriel can stop the infection from worsening and help you recover.
Dry socket is one of the most common complications following a tooth extraction. This condition develops when the blood clot in your empty tooth socket becomes dislodged. The clot is vital to the healing of your socket and protects you.
The clot can become dislodged easily within the first few days. That’s why it’s important to avoid brushing the area and keep from using a straw. The symptoms of a dry socket are:
Dr. Gabriel can provide aid in recovery from a dry socket and relieve your pain. He can also provide additional instructions that can help you recover from this condition.
It takes around 48 to 72 hours for the initial tooth extraction healing process to be complete. Your extraction site won’t be completely healed, but you can return to your everyday activities. The full healing process will take a few more weeks or months to be fully complete.
Following your aftercare instructions helps you to heal quickly so you can get back to your daily life. Complications following tooth extraction aren’t common, but they do
No. During the extraction procedure, you won’t feel any pain. However, it’s normal to feel some pain in the days after. In these 48 to 72 hours, your body will be healing from the wound, which can be uncomfortable. That’s why Dr. Gabriel will prescribe pain medication, which should help you as you recover.
While some pain is normal, severe pain that lasts for over 24 hours isn’t. If your pain medication isn’t helping or your pain extends to your jaw, neck, or ears, you may need additional help. In this case, call Dr. Gabriel at (724) 935-2100 so he can help.
You can eat immediately after your extraction, as long as you stick to soft foods and liquids. For the first few days, you’ll need to avoid hard foods because they can agitate the extraction site. Mild foods such as oatmeal, applesauce, soups, and mashed potatoes are all great options.
After 48 hours and as you recover, you can slowly add more foods to your diet. If you’re uncertain about which foods you can or can’t eat during your recovery, we can help you determine what foods are best for you.
If you had no sedation or minimal sedation, you can drive after your tooth extraction. But if you opted for a stronger sedation option, you’ll need someone else to drive you home. Sedation can take a while to wear off and we recommend against doing anything that requires intense focus.
For the next day or two after your extraction, it’s best to relax and let your mouth heal. Healing can take a lot of energy from your body and daily life can put stress on you that impairs recovery.