Why is It Needed?

You and your doctor may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in some cases preparation for orthodontic treatment.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, in most cases, we will discuss possible alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.

What Does It Consist Of?

At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic. During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure.  This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal. You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.

If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.

After Surgery

Bleeding

Some bleeding may occur. Placing a piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45 minutes can control this. If it continues to bleed you can replace the gauze with a black tea bag. If the bleeding continues please call our office to consult with the doctor.

Blood clots that form in the empty socket.

This is a very important part of the healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.

• Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.
• Avoid use of a straw, smoking or hot liquids.

Swelling

If swelling occurs you can place ice on your face for 10 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours.

Pain and Medications

If you experience pain you might use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Eating

For most extractions just make sure you do your chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours. A liquid diet may be recommended for 24 hours.

Brushing and Cleaning

After the extraction avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site.
Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.

Dry Socket

Dry socket is when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged and the healing is significantly delayed.

Following the post extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn’t appear until three to four days after the extraction.  The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath and the extraction site appears dry.

If you experience this pain please call our office as the doctor can apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket to sooth the pain.

Healing

After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was.  In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or months. However after 1- 2 weeks you should no longer notice it.

Make an Appointment

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mehrabani by calling (514) 696-5746 or by filling out the form below.

Our office hours, location and directions are available on our Contact Us page.

New Patient? Welcome!

Dr. Mehrabani is pleased to welcome new patients.

Schedule your first visit with us by calling (514) 696-5745 or by filling out the New Patient Form here.

The New Patient Form is required in order to complete our records and to enable us to give proper consideration to your treatment needs. The form is strictly confidential and can be completed online here. If you’d prefer to fill out the form in person, call us at (514) 696-5745.