Ideally, your own teeth will last for life, and we work hard to save our patients’ natural teeth. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to save every tooth. Sometimes, tooth extraction in Oshawa is unavoidable when a tooth is severely infected, decayed or damaged. We only suggest removing a tooth after exploring all other options.
If you need a tooth removed, our dentists at Margolian Dentistry will do everything possible to ensure the process is as quick and pain-free as possible. Before removing your tooth, we also discuss how best to replace it.
We offer a range of solutions, including dental bridges supported by your natural teeth, full and partial dentures, and dental implants in Whitby.
What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction
Before we begin, we numb the tooth and surrounding gum so you will not feel a thing, although you may feel a slight pressure. Once the tooth is numbed, special tools are used to loosen it and remove it painlessly. If a tooth is impacted, for example, a wisdom tooth, we may cut it into smaller sections so it is easier to remove.
After removing the tooth, we can either stitch the empty socket shut or leave it open to heal. If you intend to have a dental implant, we may carry out a socket preservation technique in Ajax, where the empty socket is packed with bone grafting material to help prepare it for the implant.
How Long Will It Take to Heal After Tooth Extraction?
Everyone is different, and some people will heal more quickly than others. Generally, you can expect healing to be well underway a week to 10 days after the tooth extraction.
Before you leave our dental office, we provide full instructions on caring for the empty socket, what to expect during initial healing, and what to eat.
If you have had several teeth removed, you must follow a softer diet and avoid chewing on that part of your mouth. It is especially important to avoid eating foods containing nuts, seeds, or anything else that could become stuck in the extraction site.
Immediately after a Tooth Extraction
Immediately after the tooth is removed, you may feel some minor discomfort and experience bleeding. This is perfectly normal, and the bleeding should stop once a blood clot starts to form in the empty socket.
The First 1 to 2 Days
After 1 to 2 days, your body starts to produce new tissue, which is a mixture of collagen, white blood cells, and blood vessels. The mixture helps to begin filling the hole left by the tooth removal.
Three Days after Tooth Removal
At this point, any bleeding should have stopped, and your empty tooth socket should be healing nicely. You may be able to see the socket has started to close.
7 to 10 Days after Tooth Removal
By this stage, the empty socket should have almost or completely closed, and a new layer of gum tissue has begun to form. You shouldn’t have any pain or discomfort and no bleeding.
It can take a while longer for the empty socket to heal completely, so you may see an indentation where the tooth was originally located for several more weeks.
It’s rare to develop an infection after tooth removal in Ajax, but if you notice any of the following symptoms, contact us immediately. These include:
- Severe pain.
- Fever and a general sense of feeling unwell.
- Swelling or redness around the extraction site.
- Bad breath or a nasty taste.
Please remember that we are here to help, so if you have any questions or concerns, get in touch with us