Young male smiling with healthy teeth outside

Tooth Extraction

Safely Removing Teeth In Charlotte, NC

At Stewart Dental Group, our dentists prioritize preserving the teeth whenever possible. Pulling unnecessary teeth can cause bone loss in the jaw, affecting the shape of your face and negatively impacting your overall oral health. Sometimes, extraction is the best option. If this is the case, Drs. Melissa and Randall Stewart will remove the affected tooth or teeth to relieve pain, create space or improve the patient’s dental health.

Reasons For Tooth Extraction

Though we aim to help patients keep their teeth, tooth extraction is common and oftentimes necessary. There are several common causes that may lead to tooth removal, including:

Overcrowding

Overcrowding causes crooked teeth and serious problems with the bite and jaw. It can also make tooth decay more likely, as the mouth is more difficult to clean. By extracting teeth to correct overcrowding, teeth can become more properly aligned and easier to brush and floss.

Tooth decay

When a tooth is infected or diseased, sometimes measures such as root canal treatment cannot save the tooth. From there, the best course of action to prevent more damage is to remove the tooth entirely.

Wisdom teeth

Most teenagers and young adults will need their wisdom teeth removed at some point. These teeth are often impacted, and ignoring them can lead to complications such as pain, damage to nearby teeth and increased risk of tooth decay. Some people are able to keep their wisdom teeth without incident—talk to your dental team to decide what is best for you.

Trauma

Accidents can result in chipped, cracked teeth or knocked-out teeth. When a tooth has suffered extensive or severe damage, removal may be necessary.

Tooth Extraction At
Stewart Dental

We help our patients feel comfortable and well-informed about any kind of surgical procedure, no matter how minor. Our dentists will meet with you to discuss the procedure in detail and answer any questions that you have. Most tooth extractions can be performed right here at our office using local anesthesia. In this case, patients can drive themselves home after the procedure. In more complex cases, patients may need to arrange a ride home.

When the area is numb, our dentists will carefully remove the tooth. You may feel some pressure as the tooth or teeth are extracted, but you should not feel any pain. Our dentist may place stitches to help you heal, but they are not always necessary.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Our dental team provides patients with detailed instructions on taking care of the extraction site following the procedure. It is important that patients follow all guidelines closely for optimal healing. Patients should fully heal from minor procedures in one to two weeks.

For the first couple of days, avoid touching the affected site. Instead, carefully rinse the mouth with salt water. Patients can apply ice and take over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve discomfort and swelling. Some bleeding is normal, but call your dentist if you experience excessive pain, bleeding or swelling.

Preventing A Dry Socket After A Tooth Extraction

After your tooth is removed, a blot clot will form, protecting the bone and the nerves where a tooth has been extracted. The blood clot will look like a hole where the tooth was removed. A dry socket is a painful condition that occurs when a clot is dislodged or does not form. Pain from a dry socket can extend from the extraction site down the neck and head. Other signs of dry sockets include bad breath and a weird taste in the mouth. To avoid dry sockets, we recommend that patients:

  • Avoid touching the area

  • Rinse gently

  • Avoid the use of a straw

  • Do not smoke

Tooth extraction

Tooth Extraction FAQs

The extraction procedure itself is not typically painful because it is done under local anesthesia. You may feel pressure, but you should not feel sharp pain during the extraction. After the procedure, some pain and swelling can occur, which can be managed with pain relievers and ice application.

The duration of the procedure can vary depending on the tooth’s location, condition and complexity. Typically, a simple extraction takes about 20-40 minutes, while more complex extractions may take longer.

You should avoid eating immediately after the procedure while the anesthesia is wearing off. Once you can eat, stick to soft foods and liquids for the first day or two, gradually transitioning to a regular diet as you heal.

Recovery time will vary on the patient and the severity of the procedure. Most people fully recover within a few days, while it may take a couple of weeks for more complex cases.

Dry sockets occur when the blood clot that forms in the extraction site is dislodged or dissolves prematurely. To prevent dry sockets, follow Dr. Melissa Stewart’s post-operative instructions carefully, avoid smoking or using straws and be gentle when cleaning the area.