Project Description
Extractions
Our ultimate goal is for you to keep all your teeth for as long as possible. However, from time-to-time, a tooth, or teeth, may need to be extracted or pulled. The New Albany Smiles team has extensive experience with this procedure and will ensure your comfort throughout the process.
Having a tooth removed, also known as extraction, is a common procedure that may be necessary for a number of situations. Some common reasons Dr. Angart will recommend having teeth pulled include overcrowding, preparation for braces or other orthodonture, removal of your wisdom teeth, and to keep your mouth healthy if a tooth is too damaged or decayed to be repaired with a crown. Sometimes, if a patient is going through radiation or chemotherapy treatment the teeth can become infected because body defenses are weakened, so Dr. Angart may have to pull a tooth in that instance.
If Dr. Angart recommends an extraction for you, the process begins with numbing the area to alleviate any discomfort. In most cases, this involves an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the mouth and keep you from feeling any pain. If more than one tooth is being pulled, general anesthesia may be used to make sure you’re adequately sedated.
Once the tooth is extracted, Dr. Angart will provide you with a post-treatment plan to make sure your blood clots properly and the extraction site remains clean and free from infection. Following the procedure, you may experience swelling, stretching of your lip, or bruising, but you should start to feel better in two to three days.
As time passes, your body will work on its own to fill in the spot where the tooth once was, and your mouth will be free from crowding and infection or prepared for braces.
Following your extraction, we recommend that you don’t drink through a straw for 24 hours or rinse your mouth vigorously, and follow a diet agreed upon by you and Dr. Angart. You can rinse gently to clean your mouth, and apply a cold cloth or ice to ease swelling.