At Blake Dental, we are firm believers in preventative dental care. We encourage people to look after their teeth themselves as far as possible, with good quality cleaning and a tooth friendly diet. We are also here for when things do go wrong – by offering restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns, we hope to do all that we can to save a tooth that has become decayed or is damaged.
Despite the efforts of our Witham dentists though, sometimes it simply isn’t possible to save a tooth, or it isn’t worth doing so due to its condition. When this happens, extraction is often the only option left available. Patients sometimes express concern that having a tooth extracted will hurt, perhaps especially those who have not had a tooth extracted since the days of ‘knock out’ gas where you were asleep for the duration. This no longer happens and the procedure is carried out using local anesthetic.
Teeth that have a single root, such as those towards the front are generally easier to extract than those with two or three roots towards the back of the mouth. There are still other factors to consider though and x-rays will usually be taken to determine if there are any nerves etc that might be affected in that area, even for the easier to remove teeth.
The dentist’s assessment is the first part of an extraction and this is where any x-rays, scans etc will be taken. Notes will also be taken of any complicating factors such as its proximity to the sinus cavity for example. We will then discuss what the plans for the procedure are with you and, if required, explain in as much detail as you wish.
Following this, a powerful local anaesthetic will be administered in the area of the procedure. This may feel a little uncomfortable as the anaesthetic meets the bloodstream but this is normal and very temporary and the area will soon become numb. Although you might feel certain sensations during the procedure, you should not feel any pain. For many people, it is the anticipation of discomfort that they notice rather than any actual real discomfort.
Contrary to what you might understand, the tooth is not then simply ‘yanked out’. We use a specialist tool called an ‘elevator’ which is used to gradually move the tooth gently around and detach it from the bone in which it sits and the ligaments that are attached to it.
Forceps will then be used to take hold of the tooth and remove it gently from the socket. In many cases, the tooth will come out in one piece. If it breaks, all the pieces will be removed and checked for. On occasion in a more complicated case, the tooth may have to be divided into sections to remove it. This is relatively rare though and in most cases it will come out whole.
As you might expect when a tooth is extracted, there will be some bleeding. To stem the flow of blood, a piece of gauze will be placed onto it for a while. This enables the blood to form a clot that covers the hole left in the bone. This is important as it helps it to heal and helps to prevent infections from occurring. We will advise how to prevent the blood clot from coming out and will also provide you with some clean gauze to repeat the process if necessary.
There is certain aftercare advice that you will need to help it heal effectively and quickly and we strongly recommend that you follow this advice. As you can see, what for some, might seem quite a daunting experience, is in reality a relatively straightforward and gentle procedure that should not be feared.
Of course, with a tooth extracted, you will be left with the choice of a gap in the teeth or replacing it with a substitute. It is unlikely gaps will be left in the front teeth for obvious reasons, and even hidden teeth should be replaced too.
This then means discussing the tooth replacement options available at our Witham practice. Essentially, these are a bridge (in some cases), dentures or a dental implant. There are a number of considerations that will need to be made such as cost and benefits and we will offer unbiased advice to help you. In most cases though, it is generally accepted that dental implants offer a superior solution as they replace the root section part of the tooth as well as the crown. This makes them a stronger and longer lasting solution than dentures.
If, after reading this blog, you are still worried about having to have a tooth extracted, please do talk to our friendly dental team. We are experienced at treating nervous patients and will be able to help you relax enough to receive your treatment. For general dental enquiries or to book an appointment with us, please call Blake Dental today on 01376 501688.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
