Oral Surgery in Loughton

Extractions / Oral Surgery

In cases of advanced gum disease and tooth decay, teeth may need to be extracted. Some patients may also develop impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause intense pain. This is alleviated by having them removed surgically. One area in which it is possible for dentists to specialise is oral surgery, an umbrella term for all dental procedures involving surgery, such as the extraction of teeth or wisdom teeth. It is always important to get the advice of a dental professional if you are worried about any of your teeth. Never attempt to pull out your own tooth at home as this could cause a more serious problem for you.

Tooth extractions typically involve the following:

  1. Before the procedure you may require an x-ray of your teeth.
  2. Depending on your particular case and the severity of your problem, you may be given a local anaesthetic or referred for sedation if you are anxious.
  3. Dentists have the right equipment and sterile environment to extract teeth with the utmost care and your recovery can be surprisingly quick.
  4. In the case of wisdom tooth extractions, you may have some swelling after the procedure and discomfort that can be eased with over-the-counter painkillers. In cases of advanced gum disease or periodontitis, antibiotics will be prescribed to reduce the risk of further infection.

Benefits of extraction/oral surgery

At some stage of their lives, most people will need to have one or more of their teeth removed. This can be for a number of different reasons and can be done under local or general anaesthetic.

Local anaesthetic

An injection is given in the gum, close to the tooth to be removed, to completely numb the area. The patient is awake during the procedure and although they may feel a little pressure during the extraction, they will feel no pain.

There are four main reasons for removing teeth:

Impacted

The tooth has been prevented from growing into the correct position, by bone or other teeth and is causing problems. This is the most common reason for wisdom teeth extractions.

Orthodontic treatment

Teeth will be removed to make space in an overcrowded mouth to allow the remaining teeth to come through straight or prior to realignment as requested by an orthodontist.

Severe decay or damage

Teeth may have to be removed because they are so badly damaged or decayed that they cannot be repaired.

Gum disease

Gum disease can progress so far that the teeth become loose and have to be removed.

Once a tooth has been removed it is important to allow time for a blood clot to form in the hole (tooth socket) where the tooth was, to begin the healing process. It is therefore important that the extraction site is not disturbed, or the mouth rinsed for at least 24 hours. The dentist may ask the patient to bite on a gauze pad to encourage the clotting process. Vigorous exercise, smoking, and eating food on the affected side of the mouth for 3 to 4 days, should be avoided. Gentle cleaning of the teeth with a soft toothbrush during the first few days after the extraction is possible, but avoids the extraction site itself. The diet should be restricted to soft foods for two weeks after any dental extraction. The dentist will also encourage the patient to use hot salty water mouthwashes the day after the tooth was extracted (one teaspoon of salt to a small tumbler of hot water). It is quite normal to experience some swelling to the face after a tooth extraction and an ice pack may help to reduce this.

A little pain or some discomfort may be felt after an extraction and the dentist may prescribe some medication or pain killers to reduce it.



Contact Info

Forest Dental
1A Forest Road, Loughton
Essex IG10 1DR
Call us today: 020 8502 2625
Opening Hours
Monday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Tuesday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Wednesday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Thursday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Friday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Closed for lunch between 1-2 pm

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