It may seem arduous, a bit painful and nerve-wracking for ordinary people for whom tooth extraction is a terrifying nightmare, but did you know that tooth extraction is a very important procedure to treat some intractable cases of the affected tooth? Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the bony cavity of the jaw. Let's face it and take a look at the following lines to know what a tooth extraction is and some of the tips we offer to help you prepare for the next procedure.
While many teens extract their teeth for several factors and some adults do the same for wisdom teeth removal, there are other reasons why tooth extraction is necessary in adulthood.
Advanced dental caries and infection of the teeth, along with uneven teeth conditions or so-called crowding of the teeth, may require a tooth extraction procedure. In addition, those undergoing chemotherapy or about to have an organ transplant may need to have any damaged teeth removed in order to maintain oral health.
Tooth extraction is performed by a dentist or oral surgeon and is a relatively quick procedure for patients either with local, general or intravenous anesthesia or a combination of that depending on the patient’s condition. Extraction of visible teeth is a simple extraction process that does not take much time and effort, while broken teeth differ from them or under the gum or affected by a disease that requires a more complex procedure than usual.
Before scheduling the procedure, your dentist will take x-rays of your mouth and teeth, be sure to tell your dentist about any medications you are taking, including vitamins, nutritional supplements, and medications that people may take long-term because of an illness.
Also tell your dentist if you are going to be treated soon for another medical condition with drugs and medicines injected into a vein eg bisphosphonates, if this is the case you should tell your doctor otherwise your jaw may be at risk of developing osteonecrosis (bone death), tell a doctor Also your teeth if you have any of the following conditions:
- A congenital heart defect
- diabetic
- Liver disease
- Thyroid disease
- Kidney disease
- Hypertension
- If you have had an artificial joint fitted
- Heart valve problems
- adrenal gland disease
- Weakened immune system
- A prior history of bacterial endocarditis
Your dentist may want to make sure all conditions have stabilized or treated before you undergo an extraction, so you may be prescribed antibiotics in the days leading up to the procedure based on:
If you have major problems with your teeth, the surgery is expected to be long:
- You have an infection or a weak immune system
- You have a certain medical condition
It is useful to consider the following on the day of tooth extraction to ensure the quality of treatment:
If you're going to receive intravenous anesthesia, wear a short-sleeved shirt or loose-fitting clothing, and don't eat or drink for six to eight hours before your appointment.
- Do not smoke before starting the procedure.
- Tell your dentist if you catch a cold, you may need to reschedule.
- Tell your dentist if you feel nauseous or vomit the night before your visit to the dentist for an extraction, which may require a different anesthetic or a rescheduling.
- If you are going to receive general anesthesia, have someone drive you home.
Avoid hard and crunchy foods for the first few days. Prepare your kitchen and fill it with soft foods like rice, pasta, eggs, yogurt, and apple juice. You'll also want to avoid drinking through straws as this can stop the blood from clotting and cause dry cavities where your teeth are.
Most people can return to work and their normal routine within a day or two, if you have a job that requires a lot of physical work you may need to take a few more days off work.
