Emergency Tooth Extraction: What to Expect

Facing an emergency tooth extraction can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re in pain. But knowing what will come next as you progress through treatment, can give you both peace of mind and confidence in your dental care. If you need an emergency tooth extraction or emergency dental care,in Cleveland, Texas, call Cleveland Family Dentistry today.

When is Emergency Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Whether you experienced an injury that caused significant tooth damage or are experiencing pain due to infection, it’s important to get dental care right away. A dentist will do everything possible to restore your tooth before considering an extraction. Sometimes, though, pulling a tooth is the best option.

Infection sometimes happens due to severe gum disease, or excessive decay that develops if you’ve delayed treatment. If you’ve delayed care out of anxiety, you aren’t alone. In fact, according to recent research in the Journal of Dentistry, more than 15% of adults experience dental fear. But remember, dental offices strive to create a caring, no-judgement zone. When you need help, please don’t hesitate to schedule an emergency appointment.

What do I do if I need an emergency tooth extraction?

If you think you need an emergency tooth extraction, the first step is finding a dentist that offers same-day emergency appointments. The sooner you get care, the sooner you’ll feel better.

When you call, it’s likely you’ll be asked some questions. You may also be asked to do the following before you arrive:

• Apply a cold compress
• Insert gauze to stop any bleeding
• Rinse your mouth out with warm water
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever

How Do I Prepare for an Emergency Tooth Extraction?

You may not have as much time to prepare in an emergency as you would for a scheduled visit. However, taking these steps before you come in can be helpful:

• Arrange for transportation from a family member, friend, or company, such as Uber.
• Bring your insurance information.
  Compile a list of medications or vitamins you take, and the dosages.
• Follow any specific instructions you were given, including not eating or smoking.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

What Happens During an Emergency Tooth Extraction?

Your dental team will likely take an X-ray shortly after you arrive to see what’s happening to the roots and tissue surrounding the problematic tooth. If a tooth extraction is necessary, they’ll perform either a simple or surgical tooth extraction.

Simple Tooth Extraction

If your tooth is visible above the gums and not broken or heavily decayed, your dentist will do a simple tooth extraction. After numbing you using a local anesthetic, your dentist will use a tool called an elevator to gently loosen the tooth before removing it. This is a quick and relatively easy procedure.

Surgical Tooth Extraction

For more complex cases, your dentist may need to make a small incision in your gum to remove the tooth completely. For this procedure, either a local or general anesthetic will be used. So, while you may feel pressure during the procedure, you won’t feel any pain.

What Can I Expect for Recovery?

Tooth extraction recovery generally only takes a few days. But before you leave the office, your dental care team will go over any at-home care instructions, which may include recommendations like:

• Applying a cold compress to your cheek
• Avoiding smoking or using straws
• Brushing and flossing regularly, but avoiding the affected area
• Eating soft foods until you’ve had time to heal
• Gently biting down on the gauze to help stop bleeding

Cleveland Family Dentistry is Ready with Emergency Dental CareYou can count on the caring team at Cleveland Family Dentistry to provide same-day emergency dental care in a warm and relaxed environment — and to guide you through every step of treatment and recovery, so you always know what will come next. If you think you may need an emergency tooth extraction, please call us at 281-582-1234. We’ll do everything we can to alleviate your pain today, so you can feel like yourself again tomorrow.