Tooth Extraction Care
At Friendly Family Dentistry, we care about your oral health and will do everything we can to save your natural teeth. There are times when this is not possible and a tooth extraction is required. A tooth extraction is when the entire tooth structure, including the tooth root, is fully removed from the mouth. Learning that you need to have a tooth extracted can bring forth many emotions. Some patients experience uncertainty and fear, especially if they have never had a tooth extracted before. Many patients become concerned about the length of the recovery.
Why Would a Patient Need an Extraction?
There can be a multitude of reasons for a tooth needing to be extracted. Medical conditions or extreme neglect can cause severe tooth decay that is untreatable. Other reasons include an accident where the tooth and root become damaged, spacing issues before braces, and gum disease.
Care Following an Extraction
Just like any procedure, each patient experiences different effects following a tooth extraction. There are patients who have little to no difficulty and a short recovery time, while others need a few extra days of recovery. You want to be sure to follow the cues from your body and not push yourself to exercise too soon or attempt to eat tough and chewy foods before your mouth is ready. If your child has a tooth extracted, we suggest that you monitor them closely.
We want our patients to remain as comfortable as possible following the extraction. Following the procedure, we provide you with post-treatment instructions to properly take care during the healing process. Some recovery care we recommend:
- Rest for 24 hours and limit activity over the following few days
- Avoid eating on the impacted side of the mouth
- Eat soft or liquid foods, such as soup, yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, Jell-O, and pudding, being sure to avoid hard, crunchy, and chewy foods
- Avoid any sucking motion through a straw or smoking
To avoid tooth extractions, it is important to remain diligent with your dental hygiene visits. If you have not recently been to see us for a hygiene visit and dental exam, please contact our office located in Terre Haute, IN to schedule your next appointment. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to help you with anything you need!
