Surgery Overview
A tooth that is severely damaged may need to
be removed. A surgeon who specializes in surgeries of the mouth (oral and maxillofacial surgeon) or your
dentist can remove a tooth.
Before
removing your tooth, your dentist will give you a
local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will
be removed. A stronger,
general anesthetic may be used, especially if several
or all of your teeth need to be removed. General anesthetic prevents pain in
the whole body and will make you sleep through the procedure.
After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. You can gently bite
down on a cotton gauze pad placed over the wound to help stop the bleeding. The
removed tooth can be replaced with an implant, a denture, or a
bridge. A
bridge is a replacement for one or more (but not all)
of the teeth and may be permanent or removable.
What To Expect After Surgery
In most cases, the recovery period
lasts only a few days. The following will help speed recovery:
- Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist
or oral surgeon.
- After 24 hours, rinse your mouth gently with
warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Make
your own salt water by mixing
1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a
medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (237 mL)] of warm water.
- Change gauze pads before they become
soaked with blood.
- Relax after surgery. Physical activity may
increase bleeding.
- Avoid smoking.
- Eat soft foods, such
as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as
healing progresses.
- Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding.
Prop up your head with pillows.
- Avoid rubbing the area with your
tongue.
- Continue to carefully brush your teeth and tongue.
After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time, and some have to be removed after a few days. Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed.
Why It Is Done
Removing a tooth is necessary when
decay or an
abscessed tooth is so severe that no other treatment
will cure the infection.
How Well It Works
Removing the tooth can help keep
infection from spreading to other areas of your mouth.
Risks
Some dental work can cause bacteria in the
mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body.
People who have a hard time fighting off infections may need to take
antibiotics before and after dental surgery. Such
people include those who have artificial heart valves and those who were born with
heart defects.
What To Think About
A tooth extraction should be done
as soon as possible to avoid the spread of infection and more serious problems.
In cases in which a
root canal treatment might not save the tooth, your
dentist may recommend that the tooth be removed and a bridge or implant
installed.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Steven K. Patterson, BS, DDS, MPH - Dentistry |
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| Last Revised | March 22, 2011 |
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