Have you noticed tooth pain in the back of your mouth? Are infected teeth impacting your bite? You may need a tooth extraction at Lighthouse Family Dentistry in Annapolis, MD. Our lead dentist, Dr. E. Taylor Meiser, provides dental extractions as a preventative general dental treatment.
Some patients may think extractions are a painful dental procedure. But they relieve pain caused by impacted or infected teeth. We also will use anesthesia or sedation during the extraction, so patients do not feel any pain.
Reasons for a Tooth Extraction
Sometimes we need to remove a tooth to keep your mouth healthy. While dentists always try to save natural teeth, there are times when an extraction is the best choice. Here are the most common reasons you might need a tooth pulled:
Severe Tooth Decay
When a cavity becomes too large and damages most of the tooth, a filling or crown might not be enough to fix it. We may need to remove a tooth if the decay reaches the nerve and causes infection. Removing a tooth can stop the pain and prevent further problems.
Gum Disease
Advanced gum disease can loosen teeth by damaging the bones and tissues that hold them in place. If a tooth becomes too wobbly to chew with, your dentist might recommend removing it to protect your other teeth.
Crowded Teeth
Sometimes there isn’t enough room in your mouth for all your teeth to fit properly. This often happens before getting braces – removing one or two teeth can create space so the remaining teeth can straighten out correctly.
Impacted Teeth
Teeth that get stuck under the gums (like wisdom teeth) or grow in sideways can cause pain, swelling, or damage to nearby teeth. Removing them prevents infections and keeps your other teeth safe.
Broken or Cracked Teeth
We may remove a tooth that breaks below the gum line or cracks in a way that can’t be fixed with a crown. Removing the tooth helps avoid infection. It can also prepare the area for a replacement tooth if needed.
Types of Tooth Extraction Treatments in Annapolis, MD
Dental extractions are simple and complex. Simple tooth extractions remove teeth that are above the gum line. They only require a back and forth rocking motion and local anesthesia for comfortable removal. Complex extractions address impacted teeth, or teeth at or below the gum line. We will use dental sedation and anesthesia for these types of extractions.
Before any tooth extraction treatment, Dr. Meiser will use CBCT scans to see where the teeth are in the mouth and plan the best extraction method. Dr. Meiser will also recommend dental implant treatment if patients need to remove their infected permanent teeth.
Why Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Also known as “third molars,” wisdom teeth are the last teeth to grow in the mouth. Many patients may notice their wisdom teeth coming in when they are in their late teens or early twenties. For many patients, wisdom teeth can cause tooth pain and discomfort. We will need to remove wisdom teeth if they are not emerging properly.
At routine appointments, we will take digital X-rays to monitor the development of any emerging wisdom teeth. If we find that they are causing pain or not fully emerging, we will schedule your wisdom tooth extraction. This complex extraction treatment will relieve dental pain and prevent damage to the back molars.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Taking good care of your mouth after a tooth extraction helps you heal faster and prevents problems. Here’s what you need to do after we remove your tooth:
- Use Gauze: Right after your extraction, you’ll bite down on a gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Keep it in place for about 30-45 minutes. If bleeding continues, use a fresh gauze pad. Some oozing is normal for the first day.
- Take It Easy: Rest for the rest of the day. Don’t do any heavy lifting or vigorous activities that could make you bleed more. Prop your head up with pillows when lying down to reduce swelling.
- Treat Swelling: Your cheek might swell a little. Use an ice pack on your face for 10 minutes at a time (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) for the first day. This helps keep swelling down.
- Gently Eat and Drink: Stick to soft foods like yogurt, pudding, or mashed potatoes for the first day. Avoid hot liquids and don’t use a straw. The sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot that helps you heal.
- Keep It Clean: Don’t rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. After that, gently rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in a cup of water). You can use a salt water rinse a few times a day, especially after eating.
What to Avoid
Here’s what to avoid after a tooth extraction:
- Don’t Use Straws: Sucking on a straw can pull out the blood clot that forms in the empty socket. This clot helps your mouth heal. Losing the blood clot can lead to a painful condition called dry socket.
- Don’t Smoke: Smoking or using tobacco can slow down healing and increase your chance of infection. Try to avoid it for at least 3 days after your extraction.
- Don’t Spit or Rinse Too Hard: For the first 24 hours, don’t rinse your mouth at all. After that, rinse gently with salt water. Don’t swish the water because it can disturb the healing area.
- Avoid Hard or Crunchy Foods: Stick to soft foods for the first few days. Avoid chips, nuts, or popcorn. These foods could get stuck in the socket.
- Don’t Drink Alcohol or Hot Liquids: Alcohol slows down your body’s natural healing process. It can also increase bleeding and make swelling worse. Hot drinks like coffee, tea, or soup can be just as bad. The heat can soften the important blood clot that forms in your empty tooth socket.
- Don’t Touch the Area: Even if it feels funny, don’t poke the extraction site with your tongue, fingers, or any objects. Your fingers carry germs that could cause an infection. Poking at the area can knock loose the blood clot that’s helping you heal. Even just playing with the area with your tongue can slow down healing and might cause bleeding to start again.
Schedule a Dental Appointment Today
Contact our office for extraction at 410-324-7287. If you have tooth pain or discomfort caused by an infected or impacted tooth, contact our office for a tooth extraction in Annapolis, MD, at 410-324-7287. You can also request a dental consultation with Dr. Meiser and his team online.