Tooth Extraction
One of the main goals of oral and dental health is to preserve natural teeth for as long as possible. However, depending on the size of the deformation in the mouth, there may be no other solution other than tooth extraction for treatment. Especially in cases where dental caries that have reached incurable dimensions affect other teeth and gums, the problematic tooth should be extracted. Tooth extraction performed by a specialist dentist is performed under local anesthesia, and the gap left behind by the extracted tooth can then be closed with prosthetic bridge or implant applications.
When Is Tooth Extraction Required?
Tooth extraction is generally preferred when there is no other method that can be applied to restore the health of the teeth. Tooth extraction is the practice of separating the tooth from the socket in which it is located, in order to protect the general oral health and prevent the spread of the problem in the mouth. Since it is not intervened in the early period, progressive caries and infections become untreatable and this causes the tooth to not be saved with normal filling or root canal treatment applications.
Dental traumas and deep dental caries are the main causes of tooth extraction, and thus, it is ensured that dental infections are treated before they spread.
- Having wisdom teeth that disrupt the structure of the mouth and change the development of other teeth,
- The need to make room for other teeth due to orthodontic treatment,
- In cases where root canal treatment is applied as a result of bruises and fractures, but it becomes insufficient over time,
- Beginning to damage the surrounding tissues due to infection and gum diseases in the tooth,
- Drugs used to treat diseases such as organ transplantation and chemotherapy threaten the immune system and cause dental infections.
As a result, teeth may need to be extracted.
How Is Tooth Extraction Performed?
Before tooth extraction, it must be certain that the related tooth cannot be saved using other treatment methods. In cases where procedures such as classical filling and root canal treatment are not sufficient or if the general health of the mouth is under threat, tooth extraction may be necessary. For this, first of all, with the help of x-ray and other examinations, the condition of the tooth is displayed, then local anesthesia is applied to the patient and the tooth extraction process is started. Depending on the problem in the tooth, the amount of anesthesia applied to the patient can be increased, for example, wisdom tooth extraction usually takes longer than normal tooth extraction.
After the mouth is anesthetized, the gum and bone tissue around the tooth are cut and the tooth is moved back and forth and separated from its socket. In some cases, the tooth comes out in one piece, but teeth that have had root canal treatment or wisdom teeth can be extracted in parts. After the extraction, bleeding and coagulation are observed in the area, and the area should be buffered with the help of gauze.
Considerations After Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is a light and easy operation performed under the control of a specialist dentist. However, it is important to pay attention to various issues so that the cavity left behind by the extracted tooth heals quickly and does not become infected. After the procedure, antibiotics and painkillers can be used with the recommendation of the physician, and other drugs can be prescribed when necessary. As a result of the use of medication, which usually lasts for a few days, the pain and aches in the area pass, and the patient can start to feed as usual.
However, during this time, attention should be paid to:
- Medicines prescribed by the dentist should be used for as long as the dentist deems appropriate.
- In order to provide coagulation in the post-extraction area, the mouth should be firmly padded and the gauze should be changed regularly.
- In order not to dislodge the formed clot, one should be sensitive during tooth brushing, and applications such as vigorous mouthwash and mouth rinsing should be avoided.
- In the first 24 hours after extraction, soft foods such as soup, puree, pudding should be fed; should wait for the time recommended by the physician to switch to solid foods. Generally, solid feeding can be started after 1-2 days.
- Alcohol and cigarette consumption should be suspended to accelerate recovery and reduce the risk of infection.
- During sleep, the head should be supported by a high pillow and kept high.
If the above recommendations are taken into account and care is taken to oral hygiene, the recovery in the area where the extraction is performed is usually completed within 1-2 weeks. During this time, complaints such as pain and aches in the mouth also decrease and disappear. With the normalization of eating and drinking and the necessary healing, the dentist can be consulted again for applications such as implants and bridges to replace the extracted tooth.