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.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Discover more about tooth extraction treatment in Washington, DC, with answers to these commonly asked questions:
What are the signs of infection after a tooth extraction?
After a tooth extraction, signs of infection can include:
- Increased pain that gets worse instead of better after a few days
- Swelling that doesn’t go away or gets worse
- Redness or pus around the extraction site
- A high temperature or feeling feverish
- Bad taste in your mouth or a bad smell coming from the extraction area
Contact our office if you notice these symptoms so we can help.
How long will it take to heal after a tooth extraction?
Healing after a tooth extraction usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks for the soft tissue (gums) to heal, but it can take a few months for the bone to fully heal. The first few days after the extraction are the most important for healing. During this time, you may experience swelling, pain, or bruising, which should gradually improve.
Most people can return to normal activities within a few days. Take it easy and give your mouth time to heal properly.
Will I be awake during the tooth extraction?
For a simple tooth extraction, you will likely be awake but will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. This means you won’t feel pain, but you may still feel some pressure.
If the extraction is more complex, such as with wisdom teeth, you will be under sedation. You will feel deeply relaxed but will not fall asleep.
Can I drive myself home after a tooth extraction?
Whether you can drive yourself home after a tooth extraction depends on the type of anesthesia used. If you only had a local anesthetic (which numbs the area around the tooth), you should be okay to drive home after the procedure. You will still be awake and alert.
If you were given sedation, you will likely feel drowsy and not be able to drive safely. In this case, you should arrange for someone to drive you home.
Can I eat before a tooth extraction?
If you only get a simple extraction, you can eat normally before the procedure. However, if you’re having sedation or general anesthesia, we may ask you to fast for several hours before the extraction. Always follow our dentist’s specific instructions before the procedure.
How much will my tooth extraction cost?
The cost of your tooth extraction will depend on the type and the number of teeth you need removed. Simple extractions, which remove teeth above the gum line, often cost less. Complex extractions may cost more because they require more time and may also use sedation.
What happens if I get dry socket?
Dry socket is a painful condition that can happen after a tooth extraction. It occurs when the blood clot that forms in the empty tooth socket (where the tooth was removed) gets dislodged or doesn’t form properly. Without the blood clot, the bone and nerves are exposed, causing pain.
If you get dry socket, you might feel:
- Intense pain a few days after the extraction
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Visible bone in the empty socket
To prevent dry socket, avoid sucking through straws, smoking, or touching the extraction site with your tongue or fingers. If you think you have dry socket, contact our dentist. We can clean the area and provide treatment to help relieve the pain and promote healing.
Can I smoke after I get a tooth removed?
No, we do not recommend that you smoke or use tobacco products after you get a tooth extraction. Smoking can slow down healing and increase the risk of dry socket. Wait at least 48 to 72 hours after the tooth extraction to smoke. Even then, you should avoid it if you can.
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 tooth removal, let us know at your next visit. We’re here to help.