Tooth Extraction
Sometimes, removing a tooth is a necessity in cases of decay, severe pain and infection in order to prevent any symptoms from spreading across the body.
Why You Might Need Tooth Extraction
There are numerous reasons why a patient may consider removing teeth – these include severe pain which can be caused by decay, infection or trauma, gum disease, and overcrowded teeth. One of the most common procedures is wisdom teeth removal. Patients can experience severe pain due to an infection and may require a tooth, or multiple teeth, to be removed.
Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Reduced risk of infection spreading
- Enables other teeth to be repositioned
What Does Tooth Extraction Involve?
First, an x-ray will be taken to find out the severity of the condition. The surgeon will then loosen the tooth and remove it with instruments. An incision may be made to the gum to uncover the tooth.
After the operation, stitches will be used to seal the gum. These may be dissolvable. The procedure can last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, dependent on the difficulty of the surgery and amount of teeth removed.
Teeth are predominantly removed under a local anaesthetic, but general anaesthetic and sedation are available depending on what your surgeon suggests.
Recovery After Surgery
Usually, patients can leave the hospital the same day of surgery but may be required to stay overnight if sedation was required. You may experience pain for a couple of days post-surgery, and gum tissue will take between three and four weeks to heal completely.
The bone can take as long as six months to fully heal following a tooth extraction.
Consultants that perform this procedure
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