Tooth Extractions

Superior Smiles offers safe and effective extractions to keep your
smile alive.

Tooth Extractions

Having a tooth pulled in adulthood is sometimes necessary. Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why tooth extraction may be needed. The most common reason involves a tooth that is too badly damaged, from trauma or decay, to be repaired. Removal of the tooth or teeth may require one or more visits to the dentist. Some individuals may opt to have their teeth removed and replaced with an artificial tooth or denture. Once the tooth is removed, the gum may or may not require stitches to close the gap and the wound. Soft cotton padding is then given to the patient to bite into to prevent bleeding. Once home, a patient may take pain relief pills such as 600mg of Motrin or Ibuprofen in combination with 1000mg of Tylenol to numb any pain occurring as the effects of the local anesthetic wear off. Antibiotics may be prescribed for some patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it hurt to have a dental extraction

Most patients say that, with a dental extraction, there is mild to moderate pain. Superior Smiles may prescribe a painkiller for you, or you can use an over-the-counter medication. It is important that you take pain medication before you start to feel discomfort and that you take it on a full stomach.

What kinds of foods can I eat after having oral surgery?

On the day of the surgery, cool and soft food is recommended, such as applesauce, cottage cheese, or yogurt. Hot foods may disturb initial clot formation in the extraction sites. Following the day of the surgery, it’s best to avoid crunchy foods such as popcorn, nuts, and potato chips, which break up into little pieces and can get packed down into the extraction sites. If you had dental implants placed, please avoid chewing hard foods with the implant itself for 6 weeks, or the healing of the implant will be compromised.

I had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday and the pain medicine isn’t helping my pain. What should I do?

The best regimen for acute pain control after wisdom tooth removal is non-narcotic pain medication, specifically 600mg of Motrin or Ibuprofen (three over-the-counter pills) every six hours, used in combination with 1000mg of Tylenol (two Extra Strength pills) every six hours. If you put each medication on a separate schedule, you can take the Ibuprofen, then three hours later take the Tylenol, three hours later take the Ibuprofen, etc. Alternating between these medications every three hours allows you to maximize your pain control, minimize unwanted side effects of the medication (nausea), and prevent overdoses of either medication. If you have medical problems such as kidney or liver disease, please consult with your surgeon or medical doctor before starting a regimen like this. Also, make sure you are well hydrated if you are taking Ibuprofen or Motrin for longer than 24 hours. Please contact our office if you have been on this pain control regimen for longer than 3 days.

What can I do to repair a cracked tooth?

If a tooth does fall out due to an accident or infection, we can assist with that as well. In our Bakersfield dental office, we can replace missing teeth using a variety of methods. Some of the most common methods are removable dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants. While losing a tooth can be traumatic, it does not have to be permanent.

Dental Group Bakersfield California Southwest
Dental Group Bakersfield California Southwest
Dental Group Bakersfield California Southwest
LOCATION

4605 Buena Vista Rd Suite 660
Bakersfield, CA 93311

Hours: Mon / Tues / Thurs 8-5pm
Wednesday 9-6pm
Friday (by appointment)

CONTACT

(661) 454-7600
[email protected]

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