Before pulling the tooth, Dr. Brooks will give you an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. If the tooth is impacted, the dentist will cut away gum and bone tissue that cover the tooth and then, using forceps, grasp the tooth and gently rock it back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and ligaments that hold it in place. Sometimes, a hard-to-pull tooth must be removed in pieces.
Once the tooth has been pulled, a blood clot usually forms in the socket. Dr. Brooks will pack a gauze pad into the socket and have you bite down on it to help stop the bleeding. Sometimes he will place a few stitches -- usually self-dissolving -- to close the gum edges over the extraction site.
Following an extraction, you will be sent home to recover. Recovery typically takes a few days. The following can help minimize discomfort, reduce the risk of infection, and speed recovery.
It is normal to feel some pain after the anesthesia wears off. For 24 hours after having a tooth pulled, you should also expect some swelling and residual bleeding. However, if either bleeding or pain is still severe more than four hours after your tooth is pulled, you should call the Wolftever Office. You should also call if you experience any of the following signs of infection:
The initial healing period usually takes about one to two weeks.