In certain cases, such as those involving serious decay, infection, crowding, or trauma, tooth extraction is a necessary dental procedure. While the thought of having a tooth removed might be frightening, being aware of the healing process can help put your mind at ease and help you be prepared.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the phases of recovery following tooth extraction and address how long it usually takes for the mouth to heal completely.
What is Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction is a dental treatment in which our dentist in Vancouver removes a tooth from its socket in the bone. This surgery is often carried out when a tooth is broken, decaying, diseased, or creating other dental problems. Simple extraction and surgical extraction are the two common types of tooth extraction.
Simple Extraction
This kind of extraction is carried out on teeth that are visible in the mouth and are simple for the dentist to access. The area that lies around the tooth is often numbed using a local anesthetic. The tooth is then extracted from its socket by the dentist using specialist tools.
Surgical Extraction
In order to remove teeth that are difficult to reach or that have broken off at the gum line, surgical extractions are usually performed. For instance, severely decaying teeth or wisdom teeth that are impacted. An incision in the gum and occasionally the excision of the bone surrounding the tooth is necessary for surgical extractions. To ensure the patient’s comfort, surgical extractions may involve sedation or a stronger anesthetic.
Immediate Aftercare
Your dentist near you will provide you thorough instructions for post-operative care right after a tooth extraction. These guidelines are essential for promoting normal healing and reducing the possibility of problems. Following a tooth extraction, keep in mind the following important information:
- Bleeding: To prevent bleeding, gently bite down on a piece of clean gauze. The gauze should be changed as necessary until the bleeding subsides.
- Pain Management: Over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications can help manage discomfort. Follow your dentist’s recommendations.
- Swelling: Swelling can be decreased by placing an ice pack on the injured region for 15-20 minutes at a time.
- Rest: It’s essential to get enough sleep to encourage recovery. For the first several days, stay away from strenuous activity.
- Diet: Be sure to eat soft foods and stay away from anything spicy, hot, or crunchy that might aggravate the extraction site.
The Healing Process
The First Few Days
Your body’s natural healing processes begin to take effect 48 to 72 hours after a tooth extractions in Yaletown Vancouver. What to anticipate at this time is as follows:
- Blood clot formation
- Swelling and discomfort
- Limited activity
- Oral hygiene
- The First Week
You can feel some swelling and pain the first week. Swelling often reaches its peak around the second or third day and then progressively goes away. Continue to follow your dentist’s recommendations for managing pain and maintaining dental hygiene.
10 Days to 2 Weeks
The early stages of healing are already fully underway. Granulation tissue, an essential component of the healing process, is taking the place of the blood clot that developed at the extraction site. Even though the region can still be sore, the discomfort should be decreasing. Continue to practice proper oral hygiene and keep your hands away from the extraction site.
2 to 3 Weeks
Your discomfort and swelling should have significantly decreased by this point. The tooth socket will start to shut up as the gum tissue surrounding the extraction site begins to recover more completely. If you had dissolvable stitches, they might start to dissolve around this time.
4 to 6 Weeks
Most people begin to heal significantly four to six weeks after having a tooth extracted. The gum tissue should have mostly recovered, and new bone and tissue will keep growing into the socket. In order to make sure everything is going as planned, your dentist can advise scheduling a follow-up session.
Complete Healing
After tooth extraction, full recovery might take many months. Age, general health, and the position of the extracted tooth are all variables that might affect how quickly a wound heals. The site may not heal completely for up to six months in rare circumstances.
After tooth extraction, healing takes place gradually over several stages, each of which has its own timeline. Do not be concerned if your experience differs significantly from others because every person’s healing journey is unique. It’s essential to speak with your dentist for specific advice if you have any concerns about how your recovery is coming along.
Schedule a Visit Today!
With a knowledgeable staff of dentists and cutting-edge facilities, you can anticipate gentle tooth extractions near you and a quick recovery here at Greenwoods Dental in Vancouver. We also provide individualized consultations that meet each patient’s wants and concerns, promoting brighter smiles and the best possible dental health in the process.
Call us to get started.