What is a Tooth Extraction?
While tooth loss is an issue that our dentists are always trying to avoid, we also understand that tooth extraction is a necessary practice of general dentistry. Sometimes, a tooth simply must be removed for one reason or another. Columbia Family Dentist is here to provide you with tooth extraction services. Whether you are in need of a wisdom tooth removal or are suffering from an overcrowded smile, our dental team is here to help you resolve this issue through tooth extraction. If you are looking for a dentist in Columbia, Maryland, that specializes in tooth extraction, visit Columbia Family Dentistry today. We gladly provide tooth extraction services to patients in Columbia, Maryland, as well as patients from surrounding areas like Ellicott City, Laurel, Fulton, and Clarksville.
How Does a Dentist Preform a Tooth Extraction?
You will receive a local anesthetic during the tooth extraction process to prevent pain or discomfort. Your gums and surrounding bone may need to be cut in order to retrieve the tooth. Once your Columbia dentist has your tooth in forceps, they will gently rock the tooth back and forth until it dislodges from the socket. Once the tooth is removed, our team will place gauze over your open socket to promote blood clotting. We ask that you keep the gauze over the extraction area for a few hours after the procedure, changing it out as necessary. This will help with the healing process.
Wisdom Tooth Removal in Columbia, MD
Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that usually come in during your late teens or early twenties. Most often, these teeth are misaligned or will cause overcrowding in your mouth. This can cause jaw pain, tooth damage, and teeth shifting. If your wisdom tooth makes it to the surface of your gums and partially erupts, this can cause an infection because of their hard-to-clean area in the back of your mouth. Depending on if your tooth has erupted or not, your Columbia dentist may require that you receive oral surgery as a part of your tooth extraction. Our office is equipped to provide you with this service in addition to our standard tooth extractions, all under one roof.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
What is the best pain relief after tooth extraction?
Pain medications are typically needed after any tooth extraction. If you can take Ibuprofen, it is recommended to take 400- 600mg every 6-8 hours post operation until pain has subsided. Other things to consider may be putting a cold or warm compress on the area that the tooth was extracted from, eating cold or soft foods, rinsing with saltwater.
When can I eat normally after tooth extraction?
It typically takes around 2 weeks for someone who received a tooth extraction to go back to their normal diet. Some people may be able to go back to eating soon, depending on the area of the tooth that was extracted and how pain is
How long should I take off work after a tooth extraction?
Typically after a tooth extraction people take off work for 1-2 days. This is entirely dependent on the level of discomfort and pain that are felt by the patient. It also depends on the line of work that you are in. Individuals who work highly physical jobs are more likely to take a little bit longer to give themselves time to recover and rest.
What are the signs of infection after tooth extraction?
Severe throbbing, excessive bleeding, increased swelling, oozey discharge, and difficulty opening one’s mouth and speaking and eating are all signs of infection after a tooth extraction. Rinsing one’s mouth with salt water may help this but if symptoms continue one should call their dentist and get an antibiotic.
Schedule an appointment with our Columbia dentists if you suspect you are in need of tooth extraction services or call us today at 410-670-8211 with any questions.