765-348-4111 At Maddox Family Dental Center, Dr. Raymond Maddox and his staff are dedicated to keeping your smile bright and beautiful. From time to time, proper dental care may include a tooth extraction. There are different reasons why an extraction might be necessary. An extraction may be required because a tooth has been damaged by trauma or disease to the point that it is no longer viable. You may have too many teeth in your mouth, and an extraction may be necessary to remove a tooth to relieve overcrowding. If you have reached an age at which your wisdom teeth are coming in, they may need to be extracted.
An extraction which does not require surgery is known as a simple extraction. In a simple extraction, the dentist will loosen your tooth with a tool called an elevator. When the tooth is loose enough, the dentist will remove it with a pair of forceps. It may be necessary to close the socket with a single dissolvable stitch but your dentist may send you home after setting an appointment to discuss tooth replacement options. If you do not have a prescription for pain medication, ask your dentist to recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever.
You will probably not feel like eating for a while after the extraction. But if you do become hungry, eat cool, soft foods for the first 24 hours. Chew on the side of your mouth opposite the extraction. You can brush your other teeth, but you should rinse the extraction area with warm water. Avoid smoking or using a straw for 24 hours.
The point to these instructions is to make sure that you do not develop dry socket. After a tooth is removed, a blood clot forms over the socket, protecting the exposed bone and nerves. If the blood clot is ruptured or removed, you will be at risk for an infection, and you will also experience severe pain. If you do experience dry socket, you should contact the dentist right away.
If you have a tooth that is giving you trouble, contact Maddox Family Dental Center in Hartford City, Indiana, at 765-348-4111 to make an appointment.