Tooth Extractions in Fresno, CA

The most common side effects of tooth extraction are bleeding and inflammation. Bleeding starts immediately after the dentist extracts the tooth. The dentist will ask you to bite into a piece of cotton gauze placed at the extraction site until a clot forms. You’ll keep swapping the cotton gauze every 30 minutes until the clot forms and the bleeding stops.

Swelling is also normal after a tooth extraction, but you can use ice packs or anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling. Moderate pain usually accompanies the swelling, but you can use OTC painkillers to help with the pain and mild discomfort. The pain should disappear completely in less than a week. Visit your dentist if it doesn't; your extraction site might be infected.

In addition, some patients may experience facial discoloration on the side of the extracted tooth. The cheeks may discolor into a light blue, green, or brown shade. While you may look awkward, this discoloration disappears in less than a day. It’s also common for your mouth to feel tender and sensitive after tooth extraction, but only for a few days.

No, removing your wisdom tooth won’t change the shape of your face in the long term. The only change in your face is minor swelling on the side of the extracted tooth. 

Swelling is the body trying to rush blood cells and nutrients to the extraction site since it treats it as a wound. You can use ice to minimize the swelling, but it should go away in a few days. However, patients won’t experience any permanent face change from having their wisdom teeth extracted. 

That said, your face will change its shape when you have too many missing teeth. Teeth exert pressure on the jawbone, stimulating it and promoting growth. A lack of pressure caused by missing teeth deteriorates the jawbone. Excessive jawbone deterioration causes a change in facial structure, giving you a sunken face.

Sedation involves administering sedatives to calm your nerves and reduce your anxiety. That way, you go through the entire dental procedure without feeling nervous or fidgeting in your seat.

People with moderate to severe dental anxiety are ideal candidates for dental sedation. You might also need dental sedation if you have a complication that makes you unable to sit still. The same goes for individuals with overly sensitive gag reflexes. Sedation helps calm your nerves so you don’t unnecessarily gag or fidget during the procedure. Patients with such complications are able to get dental sedation.

However, people with certain allergies, cardiovascular complications, and respiratory conditions may not qualify for certain types of sedation. The dentist will evaluate your medical history to determine whether you’re suitable for dental sedation.

Tooth extractions may be necessary for a variety of reasons. The wisdom teeth may need to be extracted if they’re not growing into your mouth properly. Damaged or seriously-decayed teeth may also need to be pulled if they can’t be saved with restorative dentistry. Tooth extraction is also sometimes needed to prepare for another dental treatment like a dental implant or dentures and is sometimes recommended for orthodontic purposes, too.

While your extraction won’t hurt, some pain is common as your numbing wears off. This typically peaks within 1-2 days, then fades quickly. Dr. Bauer will give you a set of instructions to help with your pain and discomfort as you heal. If you follow these instructions, most of your symptoms will fade within about a week, and your mouth will usually be almost completely healed within 2 weeks.

Medically-necessary extractions are almost always covered by dental insurance. Depending on your plan, your insurer may pay between 50% and 80% of the cost of an extraction. For more details, consult your insurance policy.