The Importance of Removing Overcrowded Teeth
In certain situations, your orthodontist will recommend a tooth extraction in order to make room in your mouth or allow for tooth realignment to achieve the perfect smile . This is a very common and relatively simple procedure, so read on to learn more!
When Is Extraction Necessary?
Your Brisbane orthodontist will only recommend a tooth extraction when it is truly necessary, either to relieve pain, improve function or to allow successful brace treatment . Overcrowding is when there’s simply not enough space for your teeth to grow in proper alignment. The only way to cure this is by removing one or more teeth to allow for healthy future growth.
How Does an Extraction Work?
There are two types of extractions carried out to combat overcrowding, and the chosen method depends on the developmental stage of the tooth. When a tooth is fully erupted and can be seen in the mouth, it’s possible to have a simple extraction carried out by a general dentist under local anaesthetic. For teeth that have not fully come into the mouth or are below the gum line, a surgical extraction will be necessary. A small incision must be made into the gum before the tooth can be removed by an oral surgeon or dentist.
Pain Management after Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is a type of surgery and, as such, you can expect to feel some discomfort afterwards, but the pain should be manageable. The best course of action is to take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen for the first few days after the extraction as this will combat both pain and swelling. If your jaw feels swollen and uncomfortable, you can apply an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time to reduce the swelling. Do not smoke, use a straw or spit for 72 hours after surgery as all of these can pull the necessary blood clot out of the gap where your tooth was.
What to Eat after Tooth Extraction
After a tooth extraction, you may find that cold foods soothe the discomfort and swelling in your mouth, so the good news is that you have an excuse to eat plenty of ice cream! It’s important to stick to soft foods for the first few days after surgery so ice cream, smoothies, scrambled eggs, mashed potato and yoghurt are all great options.
For warm meals, soups or broths are good as long as you make sure to avoid anything spicy or too acidic. Now is not the time to be reaching for chips and popcorn; crunchy snacks are a no-go after surgery due to the risk of small pieces irritating or getting stuck in the empty tooth socket.
To find out how the Tony Weir team can help with tooth overcrowding, call us now on 07 3054 6767 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.