The Tooth Was Extracted Now What? Check Solution Here!

Tooth extraction is a professional dental service wherein the permanently damaged tooth is pulled from its socket in the jawbone. It can be done in cases of injury or trauma, impacted wisdom tooth, severe tooth decay (which cannot be treated by root canal therapy), premature falling of deciduous teeth, crowded teeth, or if there is a requirement for orthodontic treatment. A general dentist or oral surgeon in Chicago here at First Point Dental performs the best and safe tooth extraction.

If you are extracting problematic teeth, this information will show you why it’s necessary to replace teeth after extraction. We will also show you some tooth replacement options after extraction available at the dental office and the post-treatment instructions.

What Happens If An Extracted Tooth Is Not Replaced? 

Teeth play a very important role inside the mouth. This includes chewing, biting, and speaking abilities. When the mouth is closed, every tooth exerts a steady pressure on the linking tooth of the opposing jaw. However, after tooth extraction, a gap is created in the teeth set. If this space is not filled soon (i.e. not replaced by an artificial tooth), the adjacent teeth begin to shift toward each other and try to cover the gap, hence causing malocclusions. The changes in the bite can strain the joints of the jawbone and lead to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ). The chewing and biting abilities are greatly impacted. A partial gap or crooked teeth makes it much harder for the patient to keep clean teeth and maintain oral hygiene i.e. get a plaque-free mouth.

Moreover, a missing tooth allows the neighboring teeth to super erupt as they try to grow and fill the space created in between them. Besides this, there are also chances of gums and jawbone deterioration as there are no longer tooth roots for bone stimulus. The loss of the jawbone results in the collapse of the lower facial structure and makes people look aged as cheeks and lips appear sunken in. Bone resorption makes it harder to get the tooth restored later.     

Teeth Replacement Options After Tooth Extraction

To avoid the aftermath of the missing tooth, dentists recommend investing in future dental health by getting a replacement tooth. The best teeth replacement options after extraction offered at First Point Dental include:

• Dental Bridge– This dental prosthesis is composed of false teeth fused with dental crowns on either side. It is fixed to the supporting natural teeth or a dental implant with cementing material. It acts as a quick solution for the replacement of an extracted tooth. 
• Dental Flipper (Removable Partial Denture)- It is a temporary replacement solution used for cosmetic purposes to secure a false tooth in the gap. Typically, it’s composed of acrylic and has metal hooks to attach to the existing teeth, gums, or the mouth roof. 
• Partial Dentures- These have customizable gum-colored plastic base plates that are fabricated with one or more false teeth on them and metal clasps to secure them in their place inside the mouth. They can be easily placed and removed and tend to last.
• Complete Retainers- These are orthodontic tools that are placed in front of the teeth of the complete dental arch to correct misalignments by applying gentle constant pressure over the teeth.
• Teeth Implant- It is the preferred choice as it acts as a fake tooth root on which a dental crown, bridge, or denture can be anchored. It can completely restore the tooth structure and keep the health of neighboring teeth intact, which is not the case with other options. It resembles natural teeth in form, function, and feel. 

Guidelines To Follow After A Tooth Is Pulled

What to do after having a tooth pulled? Following tooth extraction, the dentist at First Point Dental recommends that patients follow the aftercare instructions to avoid any complications and heal faster. Here are some of the dos and don’ts post tooth removal that must be followed:

• Immediately after pulling out of the tooth, keep a cotton gauze pad inside the mouth and bite down on it for at least 20 minutes to stop bleeding and allow blood clot formation. Keep changing the gauze often as required.
• After a complex tooth extraction procedure, apply cold compresses for 10-15 minutes repeatedly every day to resolve swelling and pain.
• Get adequate rest at least in the initial 24 hours. While sleeping, keep the head elevated.
• Refrain from using straws, using a mouth rinse, blowing nose, sneezing, brushing teeth around the extraction area, and spitting, as these actions could dislodge the blood clot at the extraction site.
• Keep the mouth and extraction site clear of food and debris that welcome bacteria build-up.  
• Avoid smoking.
• Do not eat or drink promptly after tooth extraction until a blood clot is formed. The client can have ice cream or cold milk after 45 minutes of the procedure. Solid or chewy foods are not recommended until the extraction site heals properly.
• Avoid intake of blood-thinning medications.

For more information about teeth replacement options after extraction, schedule an appointment with the expert dentists in Chicago at First Point Dental.