Dental extractions, while sometimes necessary, now take less time and are more comfortable than ever. If your treatment plan requires the extraction of a tooth, we will work with you to understand and address your concerns, and to ensure your comfort during every part of the process. Here’s what you can expect.
What if I’m nervous about my extraction visit?
Your comfort is most important to us. If you’re feeling anxious about your upcoming extraction, tell us ahead of time. We’ll be glad to prescribe you light sedation to help you relax. You’ll take a pill the night before your appointment, and another pill the morning of your appointment. By the time you arrive in our office, you’ll find that your anxiety has minimized greatly. During your visit, you’ll be awake; just relaxed. In this short video clip, Dr. Gio discusses conscious sedation at Winchester Dental.
How long can I expect my entire extraction visit to last?
Your visit time will vary depending on the details of your case, which include the condition of the tooth (or teeth) we’re extracting, their position in the jaw, and your ability to open your mouth. We’ll be glad to discuss this with you when we plan your extraction visit.
How will my extraction visit proceed?
We offer you the option of the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) procedure, which will reduce your pain and help speed your healing. If you opt for this procedure, one of our specially trained team members will draw a small amount of your blood before we extract your tooth. In our office lab, we then spin the blood in a centrifuge to form a small fibrin clot that we’ll apply to the extraction site after we remove your tooth. This substance—which consists only of your own blood with no additives—contains healing proteins that actually reduce pain and help you heal faster. This part of the visit typically takes about 10 minutes. This procedure is optional, though we highly recommend it. We find that patients who opt for the PRF procedure experience many fewer postoperative complications.
The duration of the extraction itself varies greatly according to your treatment plan. Simple cases may take only 10 minutes, while more complex cases sometimes require up to 30 minutes.
Who will perform my extraction?
Your dentist will extract your tooth, with the help of a caring dental assistant. All the dentists and assistants in our office are highly trained and experienced in extraction procedures as well as in helping patients to relax. If you need, your dental assistant will even be glad to hold your hand!
Can I return to work or school the same day?
If you’ve opted for conscious sedation, you’ll likely be somewhat groggy after your visit, and you won’t be able to drive or return to work or school the rest of the day. In this case, we’ll recommend that you have someone drive you home so you can relax and nap for the rest of the day. You should be able to resume your normal activities the following day, after you’ve had a good night’s sleep.
If you’ve only had a local anesthetic in your mouth (Novocaine), you can expect to return to school or work the following day. Even with just a local anesthetic, we recommend that you take the day of your procedure to rest. Go home and relax quietly on the couch. It makes a difference in your healing!
Will I have stitches?
Depending on the details of your procedure, you may or may not have stitches. We’ll be glad to discuss this with you as we plan your treatment.
When will I be able to eat solid food again?
In most cases, you should be able to eat solid foods the same day. We recommend that you chew on the other side of your mouth to allow the extraction site to heal sufficiently. If you’re not ready to chew solid food right away, we recommend soft foods such as eggs, cottage cheese, pureed soups and vegetables, cooked cereal, smoothies, pudding, and soft ice cream.
How long will it take until the extraction site is fully healed?
This varies with each patient. The average time is 1-3 days, but this depends on the complexity of your procedure, your health, and your healing capacity.