Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery

When is an extraction necessary?

Extraction may be called for where decay has reached the root, where a tooth cannot be saved despite root canal treatment, where gum disease has made a tooth loose, in teeth broken by trauma, in milk teeth that have not come out when they should, in teeth that are unerupted, impacted or partly impacted, in teeth causing cysts or tumours, and in infections that are partly destroying the tooth or the bone around it. In some cases a tooth is extracted as part of orthodontic planning, because there is not room in the mouth for every tooth.

Why do impacted teeth cause trouble?

A tooth that has not taken its place in the mouth although its time has come is called impacted. Impacted teeth can inflame the gum around them and lead to abscess, cause decay in themselves or their neighbours, bring bad breath and crowd the other teeth. Pathology such as cysts or tumours may develop around them, and pressure can resorb the roots of neighbouring teeth. In most cases, therefore, extraction is recommended.

What to do after surgery

• For the first 24 hours, do not rinse, do not spit and do not worry at the wound with your tongue.
• Do not eat until the numbness has worn off (about two hours); for the first 24 hours, choose soft, lukewarm food.
• Take the antibiotics, painkillers and antiseptic mouthwash your dentist prescribed, at the times and in the amounts given.
• From the day after surgery, brush with a soft brush without making the area bleed or sore; keep away from cigarettes, alcohol and fizzy drinks until the sutures come out.
• To reduce swelling, apply something cold to the outside of the area at intervals for the first 24 hours.

One of the things that most affects the success of surgery is how the area is looked after afterwards. Call the clinic in case of heavy bleeding, severe swelling, serious pain that does not respond to painkillers, or fever.