You might need a tooth extraction for many reasons. We may require extractions to remove impacted teeth, severely decayed or infected teeth, or damaged teeth that cannot be repaired. While many patients fear the pain and discomfort associated with extractions, we ensure patients are comfortable throughout the extraction process. At Dupont Dental, we provide comfortable tooth extraction treatment in our Washington, DC office.
Extractoins help patients prevent future dental problems and the need for complex treatments. Tooth extraction is one of the general dentistry treatments we provide to the public in DC. Removing problem teeth reduces the risk of infection or damage to other teeth. Extractions also lessen the chance of problems associated with gum disease, including inflammation in other parts of the body.
Why Do I Need a Tooth Removed?
The most common reasons for a dental extraction include:
- Gum or Tooth Infection: In advanced cases of gum disease, we cannot save your tooth with a root canal, filling, or gum therapy. We will remove a tooth weakened by infection and provide a strong replacement.
- Impacted Tooth: An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not have enough room to grow. As a result, this tooth can damage adjacent teeth and increase the risk of infection. Wisdom tooth impaction is common.
- Damaged Teeth: In most cases, we can provide tooth bonding or crowns for chipped, fractured, or worn teeth. However, we may need to remove a tooth with extensive damage.
- Overcrowding: Overcrowded teeth cause multiple problems, including pain when eating and trouble brushing and flossing. If you have severe overcrowding, we may remove a tooth so you can easily undergo orthodontic treatment. Removing the tooth gives you more room for the other teeth.
Tooth Extraction Treatment in Washington, DC
Before we remove a tooth, we will take X-rays to find its location and orientation. These digital images also help us determine if we can save the tooth. If we cannot save the tooth, we will schedule your extraction.
Tooth extractions are simple or complex. During a simple tooth extraction, we use forceps to rock the tooth until it is freed. If the tooth is below the gum, we make a small incision in your gum to reveal the tooth.
A complex tooth extraction removes teeth at or below the gum line. In some cases, we may need to remove the tooth in sections that is firmly in its socket.
Some extractions require only local anesthesia, while others may require nitrous oxide. We often recommend sedation for complex extractions because they can take more time.
After we remove your tooth or teeth, we will place gauze at the extraction sites. The gauze will help protective blood clots form. These clots protect the nerves in the tooth socket and prevent problems like dry socket.
If you needed stitches, your dentist could remove any remaining stitches about one week after your extraction. Keeping your mouth clean and following our instructions will make healing more comfortable.
Why Should You Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also known as the “third molars” are the final permanent teeth to emerge. These teeth typically grow when patients are in their late teens or 20s. However, they can grow earlier or later.
While these teeth may not cause problems for most patients, they can be tricky if there is not sufficient room for them to grow. Your wisdom teeth are likely growing if you feel pain behind your molars. Call our office so we can take X-rays and determine if you need wisdom teeth removal. If your wisdom teeth are at risk of impaction, we will schedule an extraction.
When these teeth do not have room to grow, they can damage other teeth or cause overcrowding. Wisdom teeth are also hard to clean because they are difficult to reach. As a result, you may be at an increased risk of infection.
Tooth Extraction Post-Op
During extraction recovery, you should also avoid the following:
- Brushing hard at the extraction site
- Eating sharp or pointy foods
- Using a straw
Instead, you should:
- Eat soft foods
- Clean around the extraction site
- Keep gauze at the sites until the bleeding stops
If you experience swelling, we recommend a cold compress. Hold an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your face for 15 minutes at a time, multiple times a day. The swelling should subside after two to three days. Our office can also prescribe pain medication to take after the anesthetic wears off.
The first day following treatment, you can clean around but not directly at the extraction site. However, as the gums begin to close over the site, you can use a pipette to rinse food from the treated area.
If you have questions as you heal from treatment, please call our office and we will be happy to help.
Can You Eat After a Tooth Extraction?
After tooth extraction, we recommend sticking with soft foods for a few days and avoiding hard or crunchy foods. Some common foods we recommend can include:
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Tofu
- Pasta
- Soup
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
What is Dry Socket?
After an extraction, your body naturally forms a protective blood clot over the extraction site. This blood clot protects your nerves and bone from being exposed. However, if the blood clot is dislodged, it can lead to a painful condition called dry socket.
You can reduce your risk of developing dry sockets by avoiding smoking cigarettes and straws. Smoking and sucking through a straw can dislodge the protective blood clot.
If you develop dry socket, contact our office. We will often recommend taking pain medication and using a cold compress to reduce discomfort.
How to Replace Extracted Teeth
You can replace a single lost tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants are small metal posts that replace teeth at the root. They can secure a tooth-colored crown.
If you have multiple missing teeth, we recommend an implant-supported bridge or denture. Bridges replace multiple consecutive missing teeth, while dentures can replace tooth rows or arches. We often recommend a restoration after you fully heal following your extraction.
Call Our Washington, DC Office
Get comfortable treatment to relieve tooth pain today with a tooth extraction in Washington, DC. Call Dupont Dental at (202) 946-4720 or schedule your next dental appointment with us online.
If you have questions about the tooth removal, let us know at your next visit. We’re here to help.