Tooth Extractions – in Beaufort for Bluffton & Hilton Head
You and Dr. Mohler may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health. Dr. Mohler will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth to avoid these complications.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.
Tooth Sectioning technique
Generally, single-rooted teeth feel less pressure than multi-rooted, such as the molar teeth. A gentler way to remove multi-rooted teeth is to section them and remove the single roots by themselves. This technique is the only way Dr. Mohler removes multi-rooted teeth because it is gentler and preserves valuable bone for the implant that will replace this removed tooth.
The technique is gentler because less force is used to remove a single root. A common complaint following traditional removal of a multi-rooted tooth is jaw joint pain. Sectioning a multi-rooted tooth helps to mitigate jaw joint pain.
The technique preserves valuable bone because the traditional technique for removal of a multi-rooted tooth had little regard for the bone that exists between the roots. Sectioning the multi-rooted tooth conserves that valuable bone, increasing the healing and shortening the time for the follow-on implant placement.
If a patient wants the best healing with minimal pain, they may elect to have a PRGF plug or a PRGF impregnated bone graft placed in the socket and held in place by a PRGF membrane. This technique requires a blood draw to get a specific volume of blood. The blood is then centrifuged to separate the protein rich plasma from the platelets. This protein rich plasma contains growth factors, known as PRP and PRGF. When bone is saturated in PRGF and placed in the socket, the post-operative pain of the extraction is much less. Also, the healing of the bone is more rapid and much denser, creating an excellent site for the future implant. The PRGF plug also aids in the healing of the surgical site and dramatically reduces the post-operative pain.
After Tooth Extraction
We are currently accepting new patients and would love to help you take your smile to the next level, and especially if you are living in Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head or Charleston, please complete our Contact Form to request an appointment.
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes immediately after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times to staunch the flow of blood.
After the blood clot forms it is important to not disturb or dislodge the clot. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities may dislodge or dissolve the clot and hinder the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Use pain medication as directed. Call our office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
After a few days you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately.