EXTRACTIONS
You and Dr. Verma may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, in most cases, Dr. Verma will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth.

The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction Dr. Verma will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic. After a few minutes Dr. Verma will make sure you are profoundly numb before beginning the process.

During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure but without pain. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal. The anesthetic numbs the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not affected. If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.

Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can't expand enough to remove it. Dr. Verma will simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

After Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding may occur. Placing a piece of moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for 45 minutes can control this.

Blood clots that form in the empty socket.

This is an important part of the healing process and you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.

Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after the extraction.

Avoid use of a straw, smoking or hot liquid.

Consult with your physician about discontinuing use of aspirin for one week and blood thinners for 3 days.

Swelling
If swelling occurs you can place ice on your face for 10 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours.

Pain and Medications
Dr. Verma will prescribe pain medications and/or antibiotics depending on how involved your extration was. If you experience pain you may use non-prescription pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen also.

Eating
For most extractions just make sure you do your chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours.
A liquid diet may be recommended for 24 hours.

Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction avoid brushing the teeth near the extraction site for one day. After that you can resume gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they tend to irritate the site.

Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after meals and before bed.

Dry Socket
Dry socket is when a blood clot fails to form in the socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot has been dislodged and the healing is significantly delayed.

Following the post extraction instructions will reduce the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn't appear until three to four days after the extraction. The pain can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath and the extraction site appears dry.

Dr. Verma will apply a medicated dressing to the dry socket to sooth the pain.

Healing
After a tooth has been extracted there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This process can take many weeks or months. However after 1- 2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience.

WISDOM TEETH
The average adult has 32 teeth by age 18. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces while the back teeth, or molar teeth, are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.
However, the average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that can holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your Third Molars, also known as "wisdom teeth." If you wish to be referred to an oral surgeon because you are anxious and want to be put to sleep, Verma Dental can direct you kindly.