As a dental patient who is about to undergo a procedure, it can be helpful to know what to expect and how to best prepare. When you are going to have a tooth removed you will likely experience anxiety about your appointment. Tooth extractions are very common, but there are things you need to do to prepare for your appointment.
There are several reasons why dentists and oral surgeons perform tooth extractions. These reasons can be that your wisdom teeth are impacted or maybe your tooth has been damaged too much by decay and needs to be removed. Sometimes dentists even remove teeth to create space for braces or dental prosthetics.
Regardless of the reason, preparing for your appointment doesn’t have to be stressful. Your dentist or surgeon will numb your tooth before extracting it to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. While this may not be a fun experience, you will feel a lot better once it’s over and your mouth has healed.
There are different types of tooth extractions. They can be classified as either simple or surgical extractions.
A simple extraction involves removing a tooth that is visible above the gumline. This tooth will be removed in one piece this makes the procedure simple.
A surgical extraction can involve removing gum tissue or bone. It also may require that your surgeon remove the tooth in pieces. This is a much more complicated procedure than a simple extraction.
Dr. Aller and her expert staff at Miracle Smile will choose the best one for your situation. They consider elements such as tooth shape, size, location, and position.
Before your tooth is removed you will need to have a consultation. During this, your dentist will need a thorough medical history and a list of your medications. This allows them to determine whether or not you need to temporarily stop taking certain medications before your surgery.
Depending on your medical history, you may also need certain medications on the day of your surgery.
A few common medications that need to be stopped temporarily are blood thinners. While blood thinners work to prevent the formation of blood clots in vessels, they can lead to more bleeding during the surgery.
To avoid this your surgeon will control the bleeding using topical clotting medications, placing gauze or foam in the tooth socket, or stitching up the extraction site.
Not everyone has to stop taking blood thinners before a tooth extraction, but in some cases it is necessary. If you do stop your blood thinners you may have to temporarily switch to a different medication.
You may also have to start an antibiotic before your tooth extraction. This helps treat dental infections, minimize risk in people prone to infections of their heart.
The American Dental Association recommends antibiotics before surgery for people with the following:
- a prosthetic cardiac valve
- certain congenital heart abnormalities
- history of infective endocarditis
- a cardiac transplant
During surgery, you will receive an injection of a local anesthetic. This will numb the area around the site of tooth extraction. This prevents you from feeling any pain during the surgery.
You can also request additional sedative or anesthetic medication to minimize your anxiety. Dr. Aller may give you:
- general anesthetic
- intravenous or IV sedation
- an oral sedative medication
- nitrous oxide
Before your procedure, your surgeon will take an X-ray of your tooth. After the anesthetic starts working they will begin removing your tooth. This could require removing the tooth in several pieces, cutting away at your gum, or removing an area of bone.
You won’t feel pain during the procedure, but you will feel a little pressure.
After the extraction is complete, your surgeon will place gauze over the site to absorb blood and begin the clotting process that will allow you to heal.
If you have any further questions about tooth extractions, schedule an appointment with our office today. Our locations are in Plantation, Florida and Coral Gables, Florida – and we are eager to assist you.