Tooth Extraction in Milwaukee
Community OMFS provides dental extractions in Milwaukee, WI. Call 414-810-1707 to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Caring for your teeth and gums will extend the longevity of your smile and prevent severe oral health problems. Even though we do our best to take care of our smile, sometimes when a tooth becomes damaged or decayed, the best thing to do for your oral health is to have it extracted.
Tooth extractions often sound like a cause for concern. However, the procedure is simple and often necessary to preserve the health of your other teeth and gums. Here is more information about tooth extractions, including how they are performed and why they are necessary.
What Is A Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is a dental procedure in which one or more teeth are removed from your mouth. It is a simple outpatient procedure performed with a local anesthetic, with or without the aid of nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas), intravenous moderate sedation, or general anesthesia. There are two types of tooth removal procedures.
- A simple extraction is when a tooth is fully visible in the mouth and mostly intact. First, you will receive a local anesthetic, which numbs the area, so you don't feel pain. Then, the tooth is gently loosened and then removed.
- Surgical extractions are performed on teeth that are broken or haven't emerged fully from the gum line. The surgeon makes a small incision into the gum, removes some bone around the tooth for access, and possibly sections the tooth. This will allow the tooth to be removed.
Why Would You Need A Tooth Extraction?
There are several reasons why you would need to undergo a tooth extraction. Excessive tooth decay and infection cause pain and possibly a spread of the infection to the surrounding tissues; tooth extraction will eliminate the source of infection and pain improving quality of life and preventing deterioration of oral health. If an injury damages your teeth, they may need to be extracted and replaced with an implant or other restorations.
Additionally, getting braces or other orthodontic alignment treatment may require a tooth extraction. As your teeth are shifted into their proper place, sometimes they crowd each other, preventing adequate alignment. Tooth removal is sometimes needed to prevent that from happening.
What Happens If You Don't Undergo A Necessary Extraction?
Dentists and orthodontic specialists don't recommend tooth removal without a good reason. Many dental techniques can preserve or restore your smile with minimal need for altering your teeth. The ideal solution is to treat the tooth with root canal therapy, a filling, or another treatment. So, if a dentist recommends an extraction, the tooth can't be saved with restorative treatments, or it will interfere with another orthodontic process.
When teeth are not cared for properly, you risk infection. Broken teeth are more prone to deep infections that infiltrate the root and gums. In addition, the longer an infected or damaged tooth remains in your mouth, the more likely it will affect your other teeth. Tooth infections that go untreated have the potential to cause severe facial and neck infections that are serious and have an impact on your overall health.
What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
One of the most common questions from patients regarding tooth extractions is, "What happens after the tooth is extracted?" Fortunately, there are options for replacing extracted teeth.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are metal fixtures surgically attached to your jawbone to anchor artificial teeth. These fixtures are implanted in your gums where natural tooth roots have been extracted. Over time, the gum tissue and jawbone heal over the implanted root in a process called osseointegration, providing stability for the implant when speaking or eating. Once the metal fixture fuses to the bone, you will be ready for a crown to be anchored to this fixture to replace the missing crown structure.
Bridges: A dental bridge is a non-removable appliance designed to replace one or several missing or damaged teeth. There are two kinds of bridges. Implant-supported bridges are permanently attached to two dental implants placed on either side of the gap in your smile. Traditional bridges are replaced with prosthetic teeth suspended by two crowns on either side. The crowns are fitted over the teeth on either side of your gap, holding your replacements in place.
Dentures: Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to replace a full arch if you are missing or have all of your teeth extracted. They are typically supported by the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, or they can be supported by four to six dental implants.
Benefits of Tooth Removal
Relief from Pain and Discomfort: Extracting a severely decayed or damaged tooth can alleviate pain and discomfort caused by infection or injury.
Prevention of Infection Spread: Removing a severely infected tooth helps prevent the spread of infection to neighboring teeth and gums, promoting overall oral health.
Facilitation of Orthodontic Treatment: Extraction may be necessary to create space for proper alignment of teeth, facilitating orthodontic treatments like braces.
Improved Oral Health: Extracting problematic teeth can contribute to improved oral hygiene and reduced risk of future dental problems.
Enhanced Appearance and Function: Extraction followed by replacement options like implants or bridges can restore dental function and improve smile aesthetics.
Preparing for a Tooth Extraction
Consultation and Evaluation: Schedule an initial consultation with your oral and maxillofacial surgeon to discuss the need for extraction and any concerns you may have.
Medical History Review: Provide your complete medical history, including medications you are currently taking, to assess any potential risks or complications.
Discussion of Anesthesia Options: Discuss anesthesia options with your dental provider to determine the most suitable choice for your comfort and safety during the procedure.
Pre-Extraction Instructions: Follow any pre-extraction instructions provided by your oral and maxillofacial surgery team, such as fasting requirements before anesthesia and adjusting medications if necessary.
Arrange Transportation: Arrange for someone to drive you to and from the appointment, especially if you will receive sedation or general anesthesia.
Post-Procedure Care Planning: Plan for post-extraction care, including rest, ice packs for swelling, and medications prescribed for pain management.
Diet and Activity Adjustments: Prepare to eat soft foods and avoid strenuous activities immediately following the extraction to promote healing.
Follow-Up Appointment: Schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor healing and address any concerns after the extraction procedure.
Is Tooth Extraction Painful?
Pain is one of the major concerns for people facing tooth extractions. Fortunately, extractions are not supposed to be painful. Local anesthetics are very effective at preventing pain. However, patients are advised that they may experience pressure or a "wiggling" sensation during the procedure. After the tooth extraction procedure, patients are prescribed analgesics to manage any pain that may be present once the anesthetic wears off.
At Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we will work with you to reduce your postoperative pain through a preventative analgesia protocol that minimizes inflammation and pain and reduces the consumption and need for any opioid pain medications.
What Is The Recovery Time Following Tooth Extraction?
Typically, it takes 72 hours for the pain and swelling from tooth extraction to improve. Following your extraction, the dentist will place a sterile piece of gauze on the affected area to manage any bleeding until a blood clot forms. You should gently but firmly bite down on the gauze and leave it in place for a minimum of 30 minutes. Once you remove the gauze, we will advise you not to replace the gauze unless you notice active bleeding from the socket. Be sure to spend the first 24 hours resting with your head elevated when you sleep. Avoid using a straw, or forcefully spitting for the first 72 hours, as these activities could potentially dislodge the blood clot that forms. Smoking can also interfere with the healing process.
It's okay to brush and floss as usual but avoid the extraction area. After 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth with a mixture of warm water and half a teaspoon of salt. Only eat soft foods like yogurt, soup, or applesauce, in the first 2 hours and reintroduce more solid foods slowly. It is imperative that you keep a balanced diet with an adequate protein intake to allow for an uneventful healing process.
Schedule An Appointment With Us
Tooth extractions can be a nerve-wracking experience, so patient comfort is essential. That's why the team at Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery provides a stress-reducing environment. We emphasize care and empathy for our patients, and we do everything we can to communicate with them, listening to their concerns and offering solutions and feedback.
So, if you want a team of compassionate oral and maxillofacial surgery experts to handle your dental care, schedule an appointment with us today.
