Everything you need to know about having a tooth removed
Sometimes, your dentist may recommend that one or more of your permanent teeth be removed. This could be because it is damaged beyond repair, is damaging other teeth, it has an infection, or it is decayed. If you need a tooth extracted in Auckland, Dental Artistry offers the very best in care and post-extraction outcomes.
If you’ve been ignoring a painful tooth or one that’s decaying, it is best to deal with it sooner rather than later. Developments in the dental field have made tooth removal and post-tooth extraction pain much easier to manage than before. With the option of sedation during the procedure, painkillers to manage the recovery and an expert managing the procedure, you don’t have to dread a tooth extraction anymore.
There are a variety of reasons that your tooth may need to be extracted. If this is the case, your dentist should be able to advise if tooth extraction is the best course of action. If you require a tooth removed, it’s likely the relief offered by removing the problem will far eclipse the temporary pain from removal.
Generally, a tooth is extracted when there is bone loss due to gum disease or when the tooth is not salvageable.
Preparing for extraction
Tooth extraction procedures are fairly straightforward. In the hands of an expert, you will feel minimal discomfort and pain. Before the procedure be sure to give your dentist your complete medical history including any medications you’ve taken, anything you’re allergic to and any health conditions you have.
Since there is a risk for infection, you may have to take antibiotics before and after the extraction. During the extraction you can be sedated either orally with a tablet or through an IV (the latter is done by a specialist anaesthetist).
Care after extraction
Tooth extraction aftercare involves rest and watching what you eat. There is likely to be swelling and the amount of swelling will depend on the number of extractions you’ve had. The swelling will take a week to subside and peaks at around the 48-hour mark. Use an ice pack to reduce the swelling . Most people do feel discomfort for a few days or so but this can be managed by prescribed pain medication.
You should eat soft foods like soups and mashed dishes that do not require much chewing. Don’t eat hot or cold foods to minimise irritation. Do this until the site has healed completely.
Avoid brushing the area to reduce the risk of infection and follow your dentists instructions regarding salt or mouth washes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Infection: A very common problem is that long term decay can cause an infection in the nerve. The symptoms can be temporarily elevated with antibiotics, but if the decay is bad, infection and pain is likely to reoccur. One of the permanent solutions is to have the tooth removed.
Abscess: Teeth that are damaged and suffering from an infection can result in an acute or chronic alveolar abscess. This is when pus forms at the tip of the root. It can be hugely painful and damage the tooth beyond repair.
Damage: If you have somehow damaged, cracked or broken a tooth in an accident, then sometimes the only option is replacement. Even if the dentist can repair a tooth, often the tooth will be at risk of the nerve dying anyway, require extraction and a tooth implant to replace it.
Removing a tooth needs to be done correctly, not only to minimise discomfort, but also to ensure that it is possible to put in a dental implant in the future. Generally, when a tooth is removed, after some time the bone that was supporting it shrinks away. This makes putting in an implant much harder, sometimes even impossible.
After a tooth is removed, the bone supporting the lost tooth shrinks away, often to such an extent that future implant placement is impossible.
Dr Sheng Zhang from Dental Artistry is an expert at preserving the bone while removing teeth.
The area will be uncomfortable for a few days, with some pain and swelling. Most people find that the worst of the pain recedes after the 48-hour mark.
Avoid foods that are crunchy, hard to chew, or overly hot or cold. Try to eat things that are soft or don’t require chewing such as soup.
For a simple, uncomplicated single tooth extraction in NZ, the cost starts from $385. Costs vary depending on where the tooth is located and the number of teeth to be removed. Wisdom teeth or surgical extraction may cost more.
Our aim is to provide you with a beautiful smile, a comfortable and efficient bite and excellent oral health
At Dental Artistry we’re dedicated to providing you with exceptional dental treatment in a practice that adheres to the most stringent safety and quality measures.
Our dentists, and patient support team are committed to treating you with kindness and respect.
Tell us about your dental goals and we’ll do our utmost to help you achieve them.