Extractions & Oral Surgery

At Autumn Family Dentistry, we practice conservative dentistry. If the dentist believes that there is a strong chance to be able to save teeth rather than to extract them, we will present the different options and alternatives. Despite the latest technological advances in dentistry, no dental prosthetic will ever quite replace your own natural, healthy teeth.

Unfortunately in certain situations, teeth may need to be extracted. Examples of reasons for dental extractions include: severe infection or abscess, damage to teeth from accidents or trauma, decay or cavities that have spread too deeply, or severely crowded teeth that require extraction for orthodontics.

The dentist will gently administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the area around it. If needed, the dentist may manipulate the gums and/or the bone tissue to gain full access to the tooth and its roots. You should not feel any pain, though you may feel some pressure from the movements of the instruments in the area. Once the tooth is removed, the socket may be treated to ensure proper healing.

Do you have dental anxiety? Ask our dentists if you a good candidate for sedation dentistry.

• Expect some pain, bleeding, soreness, and swelling that may last up to a few weeks following a dental extraction.

• Bite on gauze to apply pressure to the extraction site to control bleeding immediately afterwards. The bleeding should stop within a few hours, though some oozing of blood into saliva might still occur.

• Take all prescribed medications exactly as directed, but report any adverse reactions directly to your pharmacist or dentist.

• Use ice packs to control inflammation and swelling.

• Consume only soft foods until the wound is closed.

• Avoid creating strong suctions in the mouth, such as by drinking through a straw or forcefully spitting.

• Do not smoke for at least 36-48 hours.

• Rinse your mouth gently but frequently with warm salt water to keep the extraction area clean.

• Failure to follow these instructions may result in healing complications, such as painful dry sockets.

Talk to your dentist if you have one of the following conditions to determine if you will need to include oral surgery in your treatment plan: