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When tooth decay is left untreated for an extended period, it can cause significant and irreversible damage to your teeth. In these cases, a tooth extraction may be the only way to safely restore health and prevent further complications.
A tooth extraction is a safe procedure that involves remaining a severely decayed or damaged tooth, or one that is causing issues in the mouth like infection or crowding. While we typically try to treat issues like decay and damage with other treatments first, an extraction is often the only effective solution.
You may need to have a tooth removed if it is beyond repair due to decay, infection or damage, which can be assessed by one of our team members. Common signs that your tooth may require an extraction include:
Wisdom teeth are the most common teeth that get extracted, but any tooth can require an extraction if it is damaged or decayed enough.
Removing a tooth is a significant procedure, but one that can be completed in the dental chair in many cases. The extraction procedure typically follows these steps:
Mild swelling or discomfort is normal and can be managed with pain relief medication. Monitoring your diet after an extraction is vital to ensure safe healing, with patients recommended to only consume soft foods and liquids for at least 24 hours, and then only easily chewable foods for the first week.
Some blood may be noticeable during the first day, which can be managed with gauze pads. It is important not to brush, spit, rinse or use mouthwash for at least 24 hours.
After an extraction, we recommend replacing the removed tooth with a dental implant as soon as possible once the site has healed. This involves having a titanium implant placed into the gumline, with a dental crown used to complete the tooth replacement.
If you need a tooth extraction, it’s important to get it done safely and with a dentist committed to your health. Thankfully, that’s our top priority. Get in touch to learn more about tooth extractions and our other treatment options, or book an appointment. We can’t wait to see you.
Eating after tooth extraction can be complicated. For at least 24 hours, you should only consume soft foods and liquids, and try to eat only easy-to-chew foods for the next couple of days. Avoid hard, crunchy or chewy foods for around a week.
Brushing and flossing regularly are the best tooth decay prevention methods. It is important to pay careful attention to your back teeth, which have many grooves and multiple roots that can collect food particles. Their position can also make them harder to clean, so it is important to spend time ensuring you have properly brushed them and removed any plaque.
When caught on early during the demineralisation stage, tooth decay can be reversible with good oral hygiene and cleaning practices. Once decay has reached the dentine underneath the enamel, decay is no longer reversible and treatment will be required.
Dry socket is a painful condition where the blood clot that should form after a tooth extraction is removed or dissolved. Without the blood clot forming, the underlying nerves and bone are exposed, leading to significant pain as well as bad breath. Dry socket is a big concern in the extraction post-treatment period, but can be treated by flushing the socket and placing a medicated dressing that allows the clot to form.
If dry socket is allowed to occur and goes untreated, you may experience an infection after wisdom teeth removal, which can lead to further infection, pain and swelling.
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