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How Dental Sedation Can Help With Tooth Extraction

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If you’ve suffered a dental injury or if you need to get a tooth out because of other health issues, you don’t need to worry.

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Many people fear going to the dentist because they assume they will experience pain.

And it is true that some procedures used to be extremely painful because they were not done under sedation. A dental extraction is a common example of a very painful thing to have to go through without being numb first. However, in today’s dentistry, there can be little to no pain involved thanks to sedation.

How Tooth Extractions Work

Today, tooth extractions are generally done only after the area has been sedated to make sure the patient will feel no pain. For one thing, it’s better for you because you don’t have to go through some of the most intense minutes of your life. But also, it allows the dentists to be more accurate, and avoid making mistakes because their patient isn’t continuously squirming in the chair.

After the sedative is given, your dentist will wait a few seconds and then test to see if you’re ready to proceed. The first feeling you will experience is generally numbness in the lips or possible even the tongue area. Your dentist will then check to see if the needed area is numbed by touching it. If you still feel things, they may apply a second injection.

Instances That Require Tooth Extraction

A common notion for why some people need tooth extraction has to do with oral hygiene. In other words, people don’t take care of their teeth, and they become so damaged that the only solution is to extract it.

However, a work accident can also require tooth extraction. If a worker gets hit in the mouth area, the teeth can become loose. At times there may be no other solution than to have it extracted, and replaced.

Do You Need Help?

If you’ve suffered a dental injury or if you need to get a tooth out because of other health issues, you don’t need to worry. Speak with a St. Louis sedation dentist today. Give us a call at (314) 862-7844 to learn more.

How to Care for Your Child After a Tooth Extraction

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If you and your child follow directions carefully, then a tooth extraction should not be a big deal.

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Although it’s quite routine in the dental world, having a tooth extracted is not routine for your child. A lot of anxiety can go into having a tooth pulled. If your child has to have a tooth pulled, there are a number of ways to make the aftermath of the tooth loss much less painful for both you and your child so that there aren’t any residual problems.

Until the Numbness Wears Off

The amount of time that your child’s mouth will still be numb past the procedure depends on the amount and type of anesthesia that was used. To keep them from biting their cheeks or tongue, don’t allow them to eat anything. Your child should attempt to eat only liquid foods and drink until the numbness wears off.

It’s also important that you don’t let them use a straw because they can develop a condition called a “dry socket,” which is intensely painful.

Calm the Bleeding

After the tooth is gone, a blood clot should form that allows the gum to heal. In the meantime, you will want to keep the site of the missing tooth impacted with gauze for at least 45 minutes after leaving the office. If you notice the extraction site bleeding, dampen a gauze pad and put it into the open space. Once placed, you will want your child to bite down softly. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you should call your pediatric dentist.

Keep Inflammation Down

If your child is experiencing pain and swelling, then apply cold compresses for twenty minutes at a time. Once the twenty minutes is up, give them a twenty-minute break and then apply for another 20 minutes. Make sure that they don’t apply ice directly to their skin.

Increase Foods as Tolerated

After the numbness from the procedure has worn off, some children might experience nausea from the anesthesia, so food consumption should be treated delicately. Make sure to introduce foods slowly. Start with soft foods for the first 24 hours such as apple sauce or clear broth. After that, take it day by day by introducing foods that require chewing only as tolerated.

Return to Oral Care

Don’t allow your child to brush their teeth anywhere near the extraction site for 24 hours after the extraction. The first 24 hours you will want them to rinse with warm salt water to promote healing. Once the first 24 hours have passed, your child may return to good oral habits including brushing. Just make sure to be cautious around the extraction site.

Having a tooth pulled can be a traumatic experience for your youngster. To minimize the potential that it will be more difficult than it has to be, make sure to practice safe oral care habits and common sense. Keep a close eye on the extraction site and make sure that it is kept clean and infection-free. If you and your child follow directions carefully, then a tooth extraction should not be a big deal and your child should be back to normal within a few days.