Having the molar tooth pulled in adulthood is in some cases necessary. Your dental professional says it’s time to remove your molar teeth. He might refer you to an oral surgeon, who will do the procedure in his office. It needs to just take a few days for you to heal and feel back to normal.
Why Do Molar Teeth Need to Be Pulled Out
In what cases should molars be removed? Although permanent teeth were meant to last a life time, there are a number of reasons that molar tooth extraction may be needed. A very common factor involves molar tooth that is too severely harmed, from trauma or decay, to be repaired. Other reasons consist of:
A crowded mouth. In some cases dental professionals pull teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontia. The goal of orthodontia is to correctly align the teeth, which may not be possible if your teeth are too huge for your mouth. Similarly, if a tooth can not break through the gum (erupt) because there is not room in the mouth for it, your dental practitioner may advise pulling it.
Infection. If molar tooth decay or damage encompasses the pulp– the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels– bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp, resulting in infection. Frequently this can be fixed with root canal therapy (RCT), however if the infection is so severe that antibiotics or RCT do not treat it, extraction may be had to prevent the spread of infection.
Risk of infection. If your body immune system is jeopardized (for instance, if you are getting chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant), even the risk of infection in a particular tooth may be factor enough to pull the molar tooth.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease. If gum disease — an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth– have triggered loosening of the teeth, it may be necessary to the pull the tooth or teeth.
What to Expect With Tooth Extraction
Dentists and oral surgeons (dental practitioners with special training to carry out surgery) perform molar tooth extractions. Prior to pulling the tooth, your dental practitioner will offer you an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be gotten rid of. If you are having more than one tooth pulled or if a tooth is impacted, your dentist may use a strong general anesthetic. This will prevent pain throughout your body and make you sleep through the procedure.
If the tooth is impacted, the dental professional will cut away gum and bone tissue that cover the molar tooth then, using forceps, comprehend the tooth and carefully rock it backward and forward to loosen it from the jaw bone and ligaments that hold it in place. In some cases, a hard-to-pull tooth needs to be removed in pieces.
As soon as the molar tooth has been pulled, a blood clot usually forms in the socket. The dental practitioner will pack a gauze pad into the socket and have you bite down on it to assist stop the bleeding. In some cases the dental professional will place a couple of stitches– usually self-dissolving– to close the gum edges over the extraction site.
In some cases, the embolism in the socket breaks loose, exposing the bone in the socket. This is a painful condition called dry socket. If this happens, your dental professional will likely place a sedative dressing over the socket for a few days to safeguard it as a new clot forms.
What to Tell to Your Dentist
Although having molar tooth removed is normally extremely safe, the procedure can permit harmful bacteria into the blood stream. Gum tissue is likewise at risk of infection. If you have a condition that puts you at high risk for developing a severe infection, you may need to take antibiotics prior to and after the extraction. Prior to having a tooth pulled, let your dental practitioner know your total case history, the medications and supplements you take, and if you have among the following:
- Damaged or manufactured heart valves
- Congenital heart problem
- Impaired body immune system
- Liver disease (cirrhosis).
- Artificial joint, such as a hip replacement.
- History of bacterial endocarditis.
After You’ve Had Molar Tooth Removed
Following an extraction, your dentist will send you home to recover. Recovery normally takes a few days. The following can assist minimize pain, reduce the risk of infection, and speed recovery.
- Take painkillers as recommended.
- Bite strongly however carefully on the gauze pad put by your dental expert to lower bleeding and permit an embolism to form in the molar tooth socket. Change gauze pads prior to they become soaked with blood. Otherwise, leave the pad in place for 3 to 4 hours after the extraction.
- Use an ice bag to the afflicted area instantly after the procedure to keep down swelling. Apply ice for 10 minutes at a time.
- Relax for at least 24 hours after the extraction. Limitation activity for the next day or 2.
- Avoid rinsing or spitting powerfully for 24 hours after the extraction to avoid dislodging the clot that forms in the socket.
- After 24 hours, rinse with your mouth with a solution made of 1/2 teaspoon salt and 8 ounces of warm water.
- Do not drink from a straw for the first 24 hours.
- Do not smoke, which can inhibit healing.
- Eat soft foods, such as soup, pudding, yogurt, or applesauce the day after the extraction. Slowly add solid foods to your diet as the extraction site heals.
- When lying down, prop your head with pillows. Lying flat might extend bleeding.
- Continue to brush and floss your teeth, and brush your tongue, however be sure to avoid the extraction site. Doing so will assist prevent infection.
When to Call the Dentist
It is normal to feel some pain after the anesthesia diminishes. For 24 hours after having a molar tooth pulled, you must also anticipate some swelling and recurring bleeding. Nevertheless, if either bleeding or pain is still severe more than four hours after your molar tooth is pulled, you must call your dentist. You should also call your dental professional if you experience any of the following:
- Signs of infection, consisting of fever and chills.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Inflammation, swelling, or extreme discharge from the afflicted area.
- Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting.
The preliminary recovery period generally takes about one to two weeks. New bone and gum tissue will grow into the space. In time, however, having a molar tooth (or teeth) missing can cause the staying teeth to move, impacting your bite and making it tough to chew. Because of that, your dentist may encourage changing the missing tooth or teeth with an implant, repaired bridge, or denture.