At D.R. Dental, our priority is to preserve your natural teeth and enrich your smile although in some cases, an extraction of your tooth may be required depending on the condition of the tooth, the size of the jaw or prior to engaging in orthodontic treatment or dentures.
Sometimes an extraction is the only resort to maintain your oral health, such as oral injury due to an accident. However, we find that most of our patients benefit from following regular dental hygiene practices to help improve their overall oral health. While each person’s medical history is different, we generally recommend everyone to floss daily, use fluoride toothpaste and attend yearly dental cleaning sessions.
Sometimes a tooth extraction is necessary to help maintain your overall oral health or to help resolve particular localized tooth or gum issues. Such situations include gum disease, a cracked tooth, tooth decay or infection, a dead/dying tooth or to accommodate for extra room in the jaw. An extraction may also be necessary if you are planning to get braces, implants or dentures in the near future.
Although it may sound frightening or painful, rest assured that the process is pain free for the most part. All extractions are performed with local anesthetic, meaning that you will only experience minimal discomfort. Nervous or anxious patients will also be provided with a sedative if they choose.
While it may seem daunting to have a tooth extracted, neglecting to extract a tooth can lead to serious health complications. Tooth extraction is a routine procedure and is not a cause for alarm.
Your dentist will go over every step of the process with you in detail and answer any questions you may have. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about the procedure, anesthetics or post-operative care.
At the start of the procedure, a local anesthetic will be applied to the area surrounding the tooth that will be extracted. In some cases, a deeper anesthetic will have to be applied. Our dental team will discuss the anesthetic procedure in full detail with you.
In most cases, the process itself will take half an hour or less per tooth. In situations when multiple teeth are to be extracted, please expect to be at the dentist for longer. The time frame will also be explained to you prior to the start of the procedure.
When booking your appointment, we advise you take the recovery time into consideration and make sure to give yourself a day or two to recover before going back to work or school.
In the days following the procedure, you may experience minimal swelling. To minimize discomfort, apply ice to the affected area and eat soft foods to avoid irritation. To keep the affected area clean, rinse your mouth with warm water mixed with salt. Your dentist may advise you take certain medications to relieve pain or discomfort.
Everyone’s recovery time will be different and is dependent on certain factors including age, medical history and the extent of the procedure. Your dental team will also provide you with personalized after-care instructions.
Our team at D.R. Dental is here to help. Call us today or leave us a message on our contact form. If you need an emergency dental extraction, call us for immediate service. D.R. Dental is proud to have served Etobicoke and the surrounding area!