Learn crucial information about the tooth extraction in SW Calgary to make informed decisions for your oral health.
Having a full, beautiful smile gives you confidence and exudes happiness. However, sometimes it takes a tooth extraction to maintain a healthy mouth. A tooth extraction in SW Calgary can help prevent future dental problems. This common procedure that is performed by a certified dentist can easily be done in one booking.
Why Would You Need a Tooth Extraction?
One, two, pull. There are a variety of reasons for a tooth to be extracted from your mouth, but the most common ones are:
- Impacted Wisdom Tooth – After brushing your teeth do you notice red, swollen, and bleeding gums? This could be a sign of an impacted tooth caused by one tooth forcing pressure against another. This usually occurs in wisdom teeth which can become misaligned when they begin to grow in. The solution may be the removal of these teeth to prevent issues within your entire mouth. An infection is more likely to occur if you leave your wisdom tooth as is, plus no one wants the pain associated with an impacted tooth.
- Incident – Taking a serious fall or having a ball smash into your face at a soccer game can cause substantial damage to your teeth or cause them to fall out completely. You may be able to save your tooth by placing it into a saline solution or milk and head for an emergency dental treatment. Your dentist may be able to save the tooth and re-attach it within 30 minutes of the accident. Sometimes, though, the damage to the root is too severe, and you will need a false tooth or tooth extraction to remedy the situation. You can still have a beautiful, natural-looking smile with the help of your dentist.
- Gum Disease – Your bone helps keep your dental cavity strong, but when the bone weakens it has less of a hold on your teeth. Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, can cause your teeth to loosen due to bone loss. An extraction may be necessary if scaling and root planning to clean deep below the gumline are unhelpful.
Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly. Rinsing with mouthwash in addition to this routine will help you keep a full set of natural teeth. When you disregard your oral health, it increases the chance of needing a dental tooth extraction because of an infection in your teeth and gums.
How Is a Tooth Extracted?
There are two types of extractions.
1. Simple Extraction – A local anesthetic is given to you for numbing of the area. This ensures you feel only light pressure during the treatment. The tooth is loosened with a specialized dental tool called an elevator and removed from its socket with forceps.
2. Surgical Extraction – Local and IV anesthesia may be used in combination before the treatment begins to numb the area that will be worked on. You may be put to sleep to allow you to be comfortable during the entire procedure. The affected gums are cut into and sometimes some surrounding bone may also be removed. The tooth is then cut out.
If your tooth is visible then it is more likely you will have a simple extraction, but if it is impacted then a surgical extraction is more probable.
Recovery from a Tooth Extraction in SW Calgary
What Can You Expect After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Immediately after, you will be told to bite down on a gauze pad, keeping it in place for three to four hours to help the blood clot. Your dentist will have you apply an ice pack to the external area for ten minutes at a time to keep the swelling down. Rest and avoiding strenuous activities are crucial for 24 hours. You will need to keep your mouth clean but avoid brushing and rinsing for the first 24 hours as this can cause dry socket which is extremely painful and will require an emergency dental appointment. It may take several weeks for a full recovery, but if you notice anything abnormal during this time, contact your dentist right away.
Notes for Recovery
While your teeth and gums are settling down, you may experience some of the following:
- Numbness – Several hours of a numb feeling are normal after a tooth extraction. It is recommended to eat only soft foods for the first 24 hours of recovery so you don’t accidentally bite down hard on your tongue which may also feel numb.
- Sore Jaw – Is it difficult to open and close your mouth? Your jaw joints, especially where you chew, can be sore after a tooth extraction. This will slowly recover within a few days.
Results for a Smile You Will Love
Confidence exudes from you when you have a smile you love. Daily tasks are easier when you have a mouth that functions properly. There are other reasons a tooth extraction in SW Calgary can benefit you. At Glenbrook Dental, we want you to have a smile you can count on. We offer many services to help you out when you run into oral health problems. Be sure to visit your dentist to aid in the continual maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.