Extractions

The removal of a tooth can be a traumatic experience but often it is the only solution to treat disease of the tooth and surrounding tissues. Commonly periodontitis, non resolving abcesses and fractured teeth are successfully treated by  extraction.

Potential Risks

1. Normal complications like bleeding and a tear of the gum is possible but these are sutured easily.
2. Rarer complications like a hole developing after an extraction from the mouth to the sinus cavity (oroantral  fistula) is possible if the root extends into the sinus cavity. This is solved by closing the hole with a gum flap  and stitches.
3. Rarely following the above is the movement of the root into the sinus cavity whilst the dentist is attempting to  remove a tooth. The root must be removed from the sinus and the hole closed.
4. When healing is impaired a “dry socket” can develop which is painful. This is treated easily by the dentist  rinsing and cleaning the site and placing medication in the socket.
5. The sutures can come loose and this needs to be assessed before re-insertion of them is decided upon.  “Dissolvable” stitches take between 7 and 10 days to fall out.
6. A piece of one and or gum can be so tightly attached to the tooth that on tooth removal it can come along with  the tooth. This is treated by suturing of the wound site.
7. While removal of the tooth is taking place by forceps or being sectioned surgically it can fracture. Most of the  time all the pieces can be removed but sometimes it is unwise to continue looking for a small piece due to  anatomical considerations like a nerve nearby. These small remnants are then left behind, they can later surface  into the oral cavity spontaneously at a later time.

Any untoward reactions or symptoms should be reported as soon as possible to the dentist so that the problem can be  found and rectified.

Post-Operative instructions

• Nothing to eat or drink for two hours so that the blood clot stabilises.
• No smoking or alcohol to be used for 24 hours as both these substances are known to impair wound healing.
• From the next morning one is to rinse with a saline rinse – take a cup of warm water, dissolve a teaspoon of salt into it and rinse after every time one eats for a week’s duration.