Tooth Extraction Navan

To ensure your comfort, your dentist will administer local anaesthetic. A special gel (topical anaesthetic) is placed around the gum. This gel freezes the gum in the injection site area. A carefully measured injection is then administered. You may have a feeling of “pins and needles” as the anaesthetic takes effect.

Your dentist will undertake a number of checks to ensure that you are comfortably numb. Once your dentist is satisfied that the area is fully anaesthetised, they will proceed with the removal of the tooth.

Usually the dentist will gently ease the tooth from its socket and safely remove it. Occasionally, a suture/stitch can be placed to protect the recovering socket.

After your tooth extraction in Navan, you will be given written advice on how to manage your socket and also how to minimise discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off.

A small minority of extraction sites can continue to be uncomfortable after extraction if they become infected, which is known as a “dry socket.” This can happen in teeth that have been infected, were difficult to extract, or if you smoke soon after the extraction. It is important to attend a follow up appointment if you feel you may have a dry socket. Your dentist will manage this in an appropriate way, occasionally with pain-relieving medications and/or a special dressing.

Sometimes a tooth can be badly broken down, which may mean that a simple extraction is not possible. The remaining root structure can sometimes also cause discomfort. If this is the case, a surgical extraction can be performed. This follows similar steps to a regular extraction, although sometimes a small amount of supporting socket bone is removed to allow better access and successful removal. The placement of sutures/stitches is also different during a surgical extraction.

Your dentist will always discuss these options before proceeding with your treatment.

A soft diet is advised after having a tooth removed. Take care to ensure that food does not become trapped in the socket where the tooth was removed. Try to avoid alcohol and hot drinks in the period immediately following the extraction, especially if the local anaesthetic effect is still present.

Do not repeatedly rinse your mouth out after your extraction. A blood clot needs to form in the socket where the tooth was. Frequent rinsing will tend to dislodge this clot which causes bleeding to start again and impedes the healing process. 24 hours following the extraction, you should rinse your mouth with warm salty water (a half teaspoon of salt in a warm glass of water). Repeat this 3-4 times a day after meals until the socket is healed.

Continue to brush your remaining teeth as you normally would, taking extra care around the socket so as not to disturb healing.

If bleeding occurs after leaving the practice, please roll a handkerchief/tissue into a small pad (about the thickness of your finger), place it over the bleeding socket and bite down on it for 20-25 minutes. If bleeding is still occuring after this, please contact your dentist immediately. However, be aware that minor oozing of blood from the extraction is normal up to 24 hours after having a tooth removed.

You should expect to have some degree of swelling after the extraction. In some cases, this can take up to 10 days to resolve.

We strongly recommend that you avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products for the 24 hours following the extraction. Cigarette smoke can delay or prolong healing of the extraction site, and in some cases, cause infection and severe pain 1-4 days after the extraction (known as dry socket).

An infection in and around the extraction site is also known as a “dry socket”. Dry socket usually will not present until a couple of days after the extraction and may feel like a dull, throbbing jaw pain. If this happens, please contact the practice as you may need a follow up appointment.

You should expect to have some minor discomfort following an extraction. Your dentist will discuss suitable over-the-counter pain relief medication.

If you have had stitches (sutures) placed after an extraction, please do not touch them or pull at them. You should return to the dentist usually one week after the extraction to have these stitches removed. Certain types of sutures will dissolve on their own – your dentist will advise on this.

The type of anaesthetic used by your dentist can leave your lip and other soft tissues numb for up to 4 hours. Please be extremely careful not to bite your lip or cheek during this time period (this is especially important for parents to take note of if their child has had local anaesthetic). In addition, take care not to burn yourself with very hot drinks – you will not realise what has happened until after the anaesthetic effect has worn off.