Sometimes, you may need to have a tooth pulled out. This is called a tooth extraction. This tooth extraction is usually done by a dentist or an oral surgeon. There are various reasons why you might need to have a tooth pulled. Learn what to expect during and after this dental procedure.
You might need to have a tooth pulled out if you have:
Wisdom teeth, which are the last adult teeth to arrive, sometimes need to be removed. They can become stuck if they don’t have enough space to grow into your mouth.
Your dental practitioner will:
The extraction is done either under local anaesthetic at a dentist’s office or general anaesthetic in hospital.
If you need a tooth to be removed, your dentist will usually give you a local anaesthetic. The local anaesthetic will numb your tooth and gums so you don’t feel pain. Your dentist will then use a special tool to loosen the tooth in the gum. Once the tooth is loose, they will remove it with forceps.
If your tooth extraction is more complicated, you might need to be given a general anaesthetic in hospital. A general anaesthetic will put you to sleep.
After your tooth has been removed, your dentist will need to make sure the gum socket is clean. The socket is the hole in the jawbone where the tooth used to be. If you needed a cut in the gum during tooth removal, you might need a stitch to close the cut.
You will have a little bit of bleeding after the tooth extraction. Your dentist will ask you to bite down on a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding.
Once the anaesthetic wears off, you will probably have some pain and discomfort. Your mouth may feel swollen.
Your dentist might write you a prescription for antibiotics, pain relief medicine or suggest an over-the-counter medicine.
Usually, the wound takes 2 weeks to heal.
You’ll probably be told to eat soft foods and chew on the unaffected side of your mouth for a while. Be careful not to bite your tongue, lip or cheek while it’s numb.
For the first 24 hours you should:
After 24 hours you can gently rinse your mouth after meals and before bed. You can use a solution of half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water.
Looking to get your tooth extraction? Book an appointment with us and talk to our experienced team of dentists about your options now!
Sometimes, you may need to have a tooth pulled out. This is called a tooth extraction. This tooth extraction is usually done by a dentist or an oral surgeon. There are various reasons why you might need to have a tooth pulled. Learn what to expect during and after this dental procedure.
You might need to have a tooth pulled out if you have:
Wisdom teeth, which are the last adult teeth to arrive, sometimes need to be removed. They can become stuck if they don’t have enough space to grow into your mouth.
Your dental practitioner will:
The extraction is done either under local anaesthetic at a dentist’s office or general anaesthetic in hospital.
If you need a tooth to be removed, your dentist will usually give you a local anaesthetic. The local anaesthetic will numb your tooth and gums so you don’t feel pain. Your dentist will then use a special tool to loosen the tooth in the gum. Once the tooth is loose, they will remove it with forceps.
If your tooth extraction is more complicated, you might need to be given a general anaesthetic in hospital. A general anaesthetic will put you to sleep.
After your tooth has been removed, your dentist will need to make sure the gum socket is clean. The socket is the hole in the jawbone where the tooth used to be. If you needed a cut in the gum during tooth removal, you might need a stitch to close the cut.
You will have a little bit of bleeding after the tooth extraction. Your dentist will ask you to bite down on a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding.
Once the anaesthetic wears off, you will probably have some pain and discomfort. Your mouth may feel swollen.
Your dentist might write you a prescription for antibiotics, pain relief medicine or suggest an over-the-counter medicine.
Usually, the wound takes 2 weeks to heal.
You’ll probably be told to eat soft foods and chew on the unaffected side of your mouth for a while. Be careful not to bite your tongue, lip or cheek while it’s numb.
For the first 24 hours you should:
After 24 hours you can gently rinse your mouth after meals and before bed. You can use a solution of half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water.
Looking to get your tooth extraction? Book an appointment with us and talk to our experienced team of dentists about your options now!
