Extractions

If you do need to have a tooth extraction, there are several ways that we can go about the procedure. First, we will numb the area of your mouth so that you do not feel any direct discomfort. You will feel pressure during the procedure but otherwise remain relaxed and comfortable. If your tooth has matured and broken through the gums, we can use dental tools to wiggle the tooth and pull it out of the socket. Afterward, the area will be thoroughly cleaned, and gauze will be used to stop the bleeding while you recover. If your tooth is impacted or still below the surface, as is common with wisdom teeth, oral surgery may be necessary for removing it. When completing this procedure in our dental office, we typically create an incision in the gums so that there is a flap. The flap is gently lifted so that we have access to the impacted tooth. In many cases, we can wiggle the tooth and lift it out of the socket. However, if there is bone or tissue on top of the tooth, it will need to be cut away first. If the tooth is particularly stubborn and not budging, we might need to break it into several pieces and remove it that way. Once the tooth has been removed from the socket, the area will be thoroughly cleaned before the flap is placed back down and sutured in place. Gauze is then used to stop the bleeding.

At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we perform a tooth extraction in the least invasive manner possible to shorten the recovery time. Most of our patients will recover in the office for around an hour while we make sure that the bleeding has sufficiently slowed down, and any anesthesia is wearing off. We typically recommend having someone pick you up after having a tooth extraction. At home, you will want to rest and taking a nap is highly recommended. Be sure to drink plenty of water but avoid drinking anything that is too hot or too cold as this could lead to sensitivity for the first couple of days. We also recommend avoiding the use of a straw, for the first few days, as the suction could cause the affected area to start bleeding. How the procedure was completed will influence how long it takes to recover but, in general, the swelling will go down after a few days. In our family dentist office, we recommend taking ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling and to use an ice pack or cold compress for 15 minutes at a time. During your recovery, you should eat foods that are high in nutrition but soft. Drinking a smoothie with vegetables, fruit, yogurt, and protein powder is an excellent way to keep your nutrition levels up without needing to bite down on anything. As you add foods back in, be sure to start with things that are soft like noodles and gradually work your way up to a full diet. While caring for your mouth after a tooth extraction, you also need to keep your mouth as clean as possible. Brush your surrounding teeth like normal while carefully avoiding the surgical site. You can also rinse with water and baking soda or an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the risk of an infection developing. We may want to see you for a follow-up appointment, as well.

If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may need to have them removed. We invite you to schedule an appointment with our dentist office so that we can examine your teeth and take X-rays to determine whether or not you should keep your wisdom teeth. Not everyone needs to have them out, so it depends on how much room you have and whether they are growing straight or impacted. Also, if you have worn braces, they might need to be removed to prevent them pushing the other teeth forward. The process of removing wisdom teeth is roughly the same as any other tooth with the exception of when and why we perform the procedure. At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we typically recommend wisdom teeth removal in the teenage years. General extractions are more common as people age and have a tooth that needs to be removed due to a severe infection or significant damage. To find out whether or not you should keep your wisdom teeth, call (954) 785-1100 to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Nicole M. Berger.

First, you will receive anesthesia in order to numb the area being worked on. Some dentists and oral surgeons may also offer nitrous oxide to help you relax or put you to sleep so you do not remember anything about the actual procedure.

If your wisdom teeth have grown straight, removing them is fairly easy. In this case, you would visit a dentist to have them pulled out using dental tools. Most likely, no surgery would be required. However, if your teeth are impacted, the procedure requires oral surgery. In order to access the actual tooth, the gum tissue covering it will need to be cut open. After numbing the area, a flap will be created in the gum tissue. This allows the dentist or oral surgeon to view the tooth. If muscle or bone is covering it, that will also need to be cut away to provide clear access to the actual tooth. At this point, your dentist may be able to grab the tooth and simply lift it out of the socket. If, however, it does not budge when being wiggled, then the actual tooth will need to be broken into several pieces that can be extracted individually.

Once the tooth has been entirely removed, the area will need to be carefully cleaned. Afterward, the flap of gum tissue can lay flat and be sutured back in place. In order to stop the bleeding, the dentist will place gauze on the area.

Immediately following a wisdom teeth extraction, you will remain at the dentist office until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. During this time, you will be monitored to ensure that any bleeding has slowed and that the gauze is working sufficiently. So long as it is, you will be sent home to finish your recovery. Just make sure you have someone pick you up so you do not need to drive home on your own.

At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we tell patients who are planning for an extraction to prepare ahead of time. You will need to rest when you get home, so have your bed ready with plenty of pillows to prop up your head. Fill your nightstand with water bottles, additional gauze, ibuprofen, and some good books or movies. Plan on taking it easy for the next 48 hours. During that time, you may want to eat a lot of popsicles, ice cream, yogurt, warm soup, Jell-O, and other foods that are soft and do not require chewing. You will be too sore to try and eat anything else.

To help control the swelling, you should ice your face for 15 minutes at a time and take ibuprofen around the clock. This should be done for 24 to 48 hours. Afterward, you may still need some ibuprofen, but icing may no longer be necessary.

Gradually, you will be able to add in solid foods and begin to eat like normal. The key is to take it easy and not rush the process. Slowly add soft foods that are easy to chew and work your way up to dining at your favorite Pompano Beach restaurant. It may take up to two weeks to be 100 percent back to normal, so during this time, be sure to avoid any nuts, chips, or foods that could crunch and scratch your gum tissue.

You will need to schedule a follow-up visit with the dentist who performed the procedure to ensure that you are healing properly. During this visit, you will get the sign off to return to normal eating habits.

The first 48 hours are critical since this is when you may experience bleeding, pressure, and swelling. After this, it can take a week or two to recover fully. Your actual recovery time will be based on the procedure and whether or not your wisdom teeth extraction was completed with surgery.

As a dentist, we are always concerned about infections post-surgery. Whether you have a wisdom teeth extraction or need to have another tooth removed, there is always the risk that the area will become exposed to bacteria. To prevent this, you should rinse your mouth periodically with warm saltwater. Brushing your teeth is also important, even though you need to carefully avoid the surgical site. In some cases, an antibiotic mouth rinse may also be prescribed.

At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we understand that each of our patients is unique and so are their teeth. Whether or not you need to have your wisdom teeth removed by a dentist, will really depend on the size of your palate. If you have plenty of room for all of your teeth and your third molars, they can stay in place. There is no point in removing something that grows straight and is healthy. However, any tooth that grows in impact needs to be removed because it is posing a direct threat to your other teeth and roots in addition to being a target for infections. The best way to find out if your wisdom teeth should be removed is to call (954) 785-1100 and schedule an appointment with our Pompano Beach dentist office. We can make a recommendation and answer any other questions you have about the procedure itself.