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Extractions
Sometimes teeth develop problems that are not easily fixed. For instance, deep decay and cavities may require that a root canal procedure and a crown be completed for the tooth to be saved. In other cases, the tooth may be very loose due to periodontal (gum) disease. Fortunately, with the breakthrough in dental implants, it is easy to replace a broken tooth with a new implant. This provides the patient with a fresh start for a healthy mouth, and prevents any future problems from re-occurring in the same tooth. Remember, dental implants can not develop cavities, and implants do not suffer from periodontal disease like teeth!
If removal of a tooth is advised, Dr. Keen will review all the options for treatment to replace the tooth. Some of the options include an implant, a bridge or a partial denture. Before removing a tooth, Dr. Keen will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. Sedation may be used to enhance your comfort, reduce anxiety and will cause you to sleep through the procedure. If general anesthetic is desired, our office will have an anesthesiologist medical doctor, M.D., working in the office to ensure your safety. The use of general anesthetic requires that you don't eat or drink after midnight on the night before surgery, so you are prepared for the anesthetic.
For the removal of wisdom teeth, Dr. Keen works in coordination with the finest oral surgeon in Los Angeles, who specializes in the removal of wisdom teeth. At your consultation with Dr. Keen, you will be provided with the name and contact information for the oral surgeon specialist. For the removal of your wisdom tooth, general anesthetic can be used. During the procedure, the specialist will gently open up the gum tissue over the tooth, and if needed, remove any bone that may be covering the tooth. The tooth is then carefully removed. Sometimes the tooth may be cut into smaller pieces to make it much easier to remove.
After the tooth is removed, sutures (stitches) may be placed to expedite the healing of the site. Some sutures dissolve on their own, while other types need to be removed after a few days. Dr. Keen will tell you whether your sutures need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.
What To Expect After Surgery
In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. You will be prescribed pain medication to keep you comfortable while you are resting and healing. For your convenience, Dr. Keen and the oral surgeon specialist can provide you with the prescription days before the surgery so that you can obtain your medication in advance. The following tips will help speed your recovery.
- Bite gently on the gauze pad to maintain pressure on the extraction site, and change the cotton pad as it becomes soaked. Call Dr. Keen or the oral surgeon if bleeding persists beyond 24 hours after your surgery.
While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip, or your tongue.
- Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
- Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 48 hours. Following 48 hours, you can then alternate the ice packs with heat/warm packs which also will provide comfort through heat to the area.
- Relax after surgery. Do not exercise. Physical activity may increase bleeding by increasing your blood pressure which may break the blood clot.
- Eat soft foods, such as ice cream, pudding, pasta or soup. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK HOT TEMPERATURE FOODS OR BEVERAGES. THIS WILL DISSOLVE THE DEVELOPING BLOOD CLOT. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
- Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
- After the first day, you may gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water but be careful to not spit the rinse out. Let the salt water slowly drip out of your mouth into the sink.
- Do not smoke for at least 72 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. In addition, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.
- Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.
- Continue to brush the rest of your teeth and tongue carefully. Do not brush the healing extraction site or you will cause bleeding and slow the healing process. A syringe may be provided to you for cleansing the extraction site.
Why It Is Done ?
A wisdom tooth is extracted to correct an actual problem or to prevent problems that may come up in the future. When wisdom teeth come in, a number of problems can occur:
Your jaw may not be large enough to accommodate them, and they may become impacted and unable to break through your gums.
Your wisdom teeth may break partway through your gums, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can become trapped under the flap and cause your gums to become red, swollen, and painful. These are signs of infection.
More serious problems can develop from impacted teeth, such as infection, damage to other teeth and bone, or the development of a cyst.
One or more of your wisdom teeth may come in at an awkward angle, with the top of the tooth facing forward, backward, or to either side.
How Well It Works
Wisdom tooth removal usually is effective in preventing:
- Crowding of the back teeth.
- A wisdom tooth becoming stuck in the jaw (impacted) and never breaking through the gums.
- Red, swollen, and painful gums caused by a flap of skin around a wisdom tooth that has only partially come in.
- Gum disease and tooth decay in the wisdom tooth, which may be harder to clean than other teeth, or in the teeth and jaw in the area of the wisdom tooth.
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