Gentle Tooth Extractions
When a tooth is causing too much pain or is beyond repair, a tooth extraction may be required. Dentists will do everything to restore your tooth before resorting to an extraction, but sometimes it’s the best option to preserve your health.
Our goal at Berchelmann Family Dental is to ensure that your experience is quick and painless. We offer sedation dentistry for patients who are nervous about the procedure and will closely monitor your healing process to help avoid any discomfort.
Signs You May Need A Tooth Extraction
There are several reasons a patient may need a tooth extraction, including:
- An impacted or dysfunctional wisdom tooth
- Extremely progressed tooth decay
- Overcrowded teeth
- A severely broken or damaged tooth
- Advanced periodontal (gum) disease
The Tooth Removal Process
The extraction process is a quick procedure. A localized anesthetic will be applied to the affected area so you won’t feel a thing. Dr. Berchelmann will gently remove the tooth and administer stitches and gauze to seal up the area and stem any bleeding. We also offer sedation for patients who feel especially nervous or stressed before a procedure to ensure your experience is as relaxed as possible.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
For the removal of wisdom teeth, your third set of molars, the process is only slightly different. This procedure can include the removal of up to four teeth, located in the four corners of your mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth usually affect patients in their late teenage years to early twenties. Wisdom teeth removal is often undertaken to prevent future issues like overcrowding and other complications.
Dr. Berchelmann will determine if removing your wisdom teeth will be a benefit to your oral health before undergoing any procedure. Before removing your wisdom teeth, Dr. Berchelmann will first apply an anesthetic to ensure a pain-free procedure. Then, he’ll make a small incision along your gum before removing the tooth and stitching the area.
Aftercare Patient Tips
Dr. Berchelmann will provide you with a personalized list of aftercare instructions after your procedure. Generally, the recovery time for a tooth extraction is 48 to 72 hours. During this window, there are plenty of things you can do to make the healing process go smoothly and painlessly, such as:
- Bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes immediately after the appointment, or until any oozing has stopped
- Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, or brush teeth next to the extraction site
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for up to 72 hours after surgery
- Limit vigorous exercise until the extraction site has healed
- Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the jaw to reduce swelling
- Take pain medications as prescribed by Dr. Berchelmann
- Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft food on the day of the extraction. You can resume eating normally after 24 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tooth extraction take?
Tooth extractions are quick, single-visits at our San Antonia office. The process generally lasts up to an hour but can be longer if more than one tooth needs to be removed.
How long after a tooth extraction can I eat?
Once your tooth extraction appointment is complete you can eat after an hour, but be sure to only eat foods that are soft or drink liquids for the first 24 hours.
What do I do if the site of my extraction is infected?
If you notice a bitter taste in your mouth, induced pain, bad breath, swelling, sensitivity to temperatures, or feel a fever, these may be signs of an infected extraction site. In this instance, you should call us immediately to get is cleaned and removed.
Is a tooth extraction painful?
Here at Berchelmann Family Dentistry, we offer sedation dentistry to help reduce pain for your tooth extraction procedure and minimize post-op discomfort. Ask us about our options when you come in for your consultation.
Should I feel pain in the days after my tooth extraction?
During normal healing, the discomfort of an extraction should diminish over a few days. However, if the pain increases, this is an indication that healing is delayed and could possibly be due to a dry socket and you should give us a call to come in for a check-up.
Can a tooth extraction cause other teeth to hurt?
If you remove a tooth, it can sometimes cause other teeth to shift in your mouth, which will result in changes in your bite. In these cases, we will recommend a tooth replacement options such as dental implants or bridges to ensure your jaw and teeth aren’t affected.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
A severely infected or damaged tooth can be excruciating, and sometimes an extraction is the best option. You deserve to live your life pain-free and without worry. Dr. Berchelmann and our team want to help provide you with this experience. Schedule your appointment today by calling us at (210) 336-8478 to get the relief you deserve.