Tooth extractions are always our last resort when it comes to dental care. We always explore other options first with the goal of keeping your smile healthy and intact. However, in some situations, the best solution is to remove a tooth. This typically occurs when the tooth is so severely damaged that repairing it would not be feasible. This could be the case because of progressed tooth decay or severe damage from injury.
Additionally, a common type of tooth extraction is wisdom teeth removal. Many patients do not have enough room in their mouth for their final set of molars to grow in. Instead, these teeth can become impacted or grow in at the wrong angles, leading to painful symptoms and even health risks. With the right dentist, a tooth extraction can be a quick and painless procedure.
Many patients are surprised at how fast and pain-free a tooth extraction can be. For simple extractions, we use local anesthetic and can remove the tooth in a matter of minutes. For more involved procedures, patients sometimes require heavier sedation to ensure a painless experience. It depends on the type, position, and status of the tooth. For example, an impacted wisdom tooth may require a more complex procedure than removing a damaged front tooth (e.g., an incisor).
Once the surgery is over, many patients can resume most activities within a couple of hours. However, you will need someone to drive you home if you had anything stronger than local numbing for the procedure. Recovery is typically well-tolerated and over quickly.
While tooth extraction is technically a surgery, it is one that patients can quickly recover from. For simple extractions, patients may have only a couple of days of minor discomfort and swelling afterward. These soon resolve and rarely interfere with most day-to-day activities. Still, we recommend avoiding strenuous activity (e.g., cardio exercises) until the socket is well healed. Once you are fully healed, you can begin exploring tooth replacement options, such as dental implants or bridges.
Wisdom teeth removal typically has a slightly longer recovery period, due to the procedure often being more complex. Patients can expect to take about 3 to 5 days off from school or work for the initial healing period. Overall, the recovery may last about 1 to 2 weeks, after which you can return to regular levels of activity.
