What do you do if you wake up one morning and experience severe tooth pain? What if you accidentally damage your tooth after biting a piece of food too hard or after tripping, falling and landing face-first on the ground? In both of these cases, you just might need an emergency tooth extraction in Cambridge.
While you won’t know for sure until you get to an oral surgeon, it’s always better to know what the signs and symptoms are as well as what the extraction process entails. Today, a dentist is prepared to do exactly that.
How Do I Know If I Need an Extraction?
In some cases, teeth need to be extracted even if you don’t have any noticeable symptoms. If you regularly receive dental checkups and cleanings, chances are you’ll be advised by a dental professional when your wisdom teeth need extracting.
However, there are specific signs that imply that an extraction will be needed. These include:
- Severe tooth pain that shoots deep into the gums
- Teeth that appear dark grey or black
- Having a tooth that has broken into multiple pieces
- Having a significantly large cavity
- A severe fracture that extends below the gum line
What Does the Process Entail?
Once you arrive at the dental practice, an oral surgeon will perform X-rays and confirm if your teeth can be saved or if an extraction is needed. Keep in mind that having a large cavity does not necessarily disqualify you for a dental crown. However, if he determines that extracting the tooth is the best option for protecting your oral health in the long-term, he’ll begin the treatment process the same day.
To start, he’ll numb the area around the tooth as well as the tooth itself to make removal as comfortable of an experience as possible. By using a pair of dental forceps to gently shift the tooth back and forth, the surgeon can break the tooth from the periodontal ligament and remove it. In some cases, the tooth needs to be broken up into smaller pieces for removal, but this is more common for wisdom tooth extractions.
What Should Post-Op Care Look Like?
After treatment is complete, you’ll be given all necessary instructions to ensure no complications occur. This should include:
- Resting for 48 to 72 hours
- Avoiding the treatment site when brushing, flossing and eating
- Using pain relievers and cold compresses to reduce mild discomfort and swelling
- Contacting the surgeon if you experience significant discomfort or swelling, heavy bleeding, a foul odor stemming from your mouth, infection or inflammation in the soft tissue after the first 72 hours
- Avoiding the use of straws which can dislodge the blood clot and lead to dry socket
- Avoiding the use of all tobacco products which interfere with healing
Not sure if you need a tooth extraction in Cambridge? Schedule an appointment and don’t put it off any longer!
About the Author
Dr. Jeff Lee earned his DMD degree from the dental school at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He’s performed thousands of tooth extractions, both of simple and complex nature, and is more than qualified to determine if your tooth can be saved or needs to be extracted to protect your oral health. To learn more about his practice, you can contact him through his website.