Dental Articles
Here is some useful information about dental health and care.
| Dental Extraction |
| Dental Articles - General Adult Dentistry |
Dental extraction is the removal of tooth, with modern dentistry we try to save and keep yuor teeth as long as possible. Somtime there are cases teeth need to be remove. for example when teeth are badly broken down to the gum level, When the teeth are loose due to gum disease, when the nerve is dead and you do not want root canal therapy. Teeth also remove for other reason like create space for orthodontic treatment (braces), impacted wisdom teeth.
Before the tooth is removed we need to take a X-Ray to see whether the roots are curve or spread apart, close to the sinuse. This would give us an idea if it is simple, potentially difficult or difficult cases that need to refer to a specialist.
Most dental extractions are straight forward but sometimes there are difficult cases that your dentist can not be able complete the extraction. He or she will need refer you to the specialist.
Possible Complication:
- Fracture of tooth when the tooth is weaken by large cavity.
- Fracture of roots when they are thin and long, curve or spread apart.
- Fracture of jaw, it is very rare, happen when roots fused the the bone, or jaw bone is thin and weak.
- Hole in the sinuses, it is also rare, happen when roots of upper back teeth are very close to the sinuse floor. Ususally it is small and it will heal itself. if there is a large hole, it need to be repair by the specialist.
- Pain can happen after mumbness wear off, generally mild and moderate pain killer can give you relief. Your dentist can prescribe stronger pain killer if you needed. Usually the pain go away within a few day.
- Dry socket happen when the blood clot is lost and the bone of socket exposed. It is quite painful and slow healing. Generally the pain get worsen over a few days after the extraction. We have medication apply to the socket to treat dry socket. To reduce incident of dry socket try not to smoke for a few days atfer extraction as the nicotine reduce blood flow to the socket, not to spit or rinse vigorously as this can cause blood clot to dislodge from the socket. Rinse is recommended after 24 hours and it is done gently.
- Infection can occur at extraction area, if the area is more sore, swelling, you feel unwell and feverish. Please contact your dentist for antibiotic.