How Long Does Simple Extraction Take to Heal?

During the latest dental visit, the dentist recommends that you are in need of a tooth extraction, but a simple extraction is needed. This may seem extreme and scary, but the procedure and the aftercare for the extraction are both easy to understand and execute. These procedures are done often for dentist and are easy to do for both them and the patient.

 

What is a simple extraction?

 

A simple extraction is used to remove a tooth that is easy to access in the mouth and requires a less invasive procedure. The tooth may be located towards the front of the mouth, or in a visible place where the dentist needs few tools to use on it. Simple extractions are those that have a loose tooth that’s painful, a baby tooth that’s blocking the growth of an adult tooth, or a tooth that’s cracked or has other issues that may compromise the health of the mouth.

 

What happens during the procedure?

 

During the procedure, the dental specialist will inject a local anesthesia into the gums of the area around the tooth, and left to set so that the area is completely numb and ready to be worked on. The use of “laughing gas” is not needed but many people like to use it. Once removed, the dentist will clean up the area and make sure there is no bleeding from the removal area before either clogging it with a cotton ball or leaving it as is.

 

What’s the recovery like for a simple extraction?

 

After the removal, the dentist will talk about how to carefully care for the area so that it heals properly. In some cases, a replacement tooth is not always placed right away in the area of removal, so that it can heal and be more effective for the replacement to be put in. Right away, the dentist will tell you not to eat right after the procedure, so that the numbing can wear off and you won’t bite your own tongue or cheeks.

 

Next, the dentist will tell you not to drink through a straw or do any sucking with your mouth because it can dislodge the blood clot in the area. The blood clot is left there so that the mouth can naturally heal in that spot. However, if the clot is sucked out, it causes what is called “dry socket,” which leaves the nerves in the area exposed. This causes extreme discomfort and a visit back to the dentist.

 

With proper care, the area will stop hurting about 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. For the the gums and the blood clot, it could take 3 to 4 weeks to fully heal. Once fully healed, the dentist will recommend coming back in so that replacements can be put into place where the tooth used to be, or for a checkup to see the status of the healing.

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