Tooth Extractions – Annandale, VA
Complete Comfort From Start to Finish
Do you have an impacted wisdom tooth? Have you been told that an infected tooth needs to be removed? Contact Dr. Salari for tooth extractions in her Annandale, VA dental office. Dr. Salari makes sure that each patient feels comfortable during their extraction procedure. She uses local anesthesia and may also use dental sedation for pain-free treatment. The tooth extraction procedure is a general dental solution that removes impacted, infected, and severely overcrowded teeth. Removing these problem teeth can improve the health of the overall smile.
Tooth Extraction Treatment
Dr. Salari will first numb the treated area with a local anesthetic. During the extraction process, Dr. Salari will rock the tooth back in forth to widen the socket for removal. If a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or is impacted, Dr. Salari will cut the tooth into sections for extraction.
After tooth extraction, you may switch out the gauze covering the extraction site. It is important for a blood clot to form to begin the healing process. Bite on the gauze pad for 30 minutes after your treatment. You can replace the gauze pad several times until the bleeding stops. You may feel some pain and experience some swelling. Apply an ice pack to the side of the face to keep swelling to a minimum and take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Removing Wisdom Teeth
Also known as “third molars”, wisdom teeth typically emerge when patients are in their late teens or early 20’s. Although not everyone requires a wisdom tooth extraction, wisdom teeth are typically removed due to impaction. Impacted teeth are teeth that do not have enough room to emerge. Because of this, they can damage the molars in the back of the mouth and cause tooth pain. Dr. Salari will take x-rays during routine appointments to keep track of wisdom teeth and determine if they need to be removed.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes immediately after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times to staunch the flow of blood.
After the blood clot forms, it is important to not disturb or dislodge the clot. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol, or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities may dislodge or dissolve the clot and hinder the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Use pain medication as directed. Call our dental office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
After a few days, you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our dental office immediately.
Request a Dental Appointment
Please contact Dr. Salari if you ever experience severe tooth sensitivity or pain. It may be a sign of an infected or impacted tooth. Call Nova Smile Dental today at 703.763.0800 or schedule a dental consultation online.