The Mulberry Dental Blog » tooth extraction

The expertise of Surbiton dentists helps patients avoid dry sockets

admin — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 08:39:51 +0000

Having a tooth extracted is thankfully something that most people will never have to think about. It is the last resort of dentists who are understandably anxious for patients to have as many natural teeth in their mouth as possible. But sometimes a tooth has become so unhealthy or damaged that it is best to remove it and think about replacing it with something that, although not a natural tooth, can function properly.

Dentists perform many tooth extractions and they have to be very well trained to qualify as practitioners. Even so, the aftermath of a tooth extraction will always be rather painful. This is normal when you consider that the nerves and the blood vessels at the site will be having adjust to the loss of the tooth. But if the pain is particularly bad is simply not going away then you must contact your dentist because you might be suffering from dry sockets.

Quite simply, dry socket is what happens if the blood is unable to clot properly at the site of a tooth extraction. This can occur as a result of a number of causes. Those who are taking immune-suppressive drugs or are using a birth control pill can have problems with the clotting of their blood anyway, as can people with other underlying health issues. Sometimes the blood clot can be dislodged if adequate care is not taken of the area. Smoking can sometimes hinder the recovery of an extraction and cause dry socket as can too much sucking, for instance through a straw.

Keeping in touch with your Surbiton dentist is the best course of action if you have had a tooth extracted so that you will feel like you can report any problems to them.

Abscessed tooth treatment and what it entails by a Sunbury dentist

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:49:31 +0000

An abscessed tooth is a painful and annoying one, and it can take a bit of time to clear it up. A Sunbury dentist has advised his patients that extra care must be taken to ensure the infection doesn’t return. The problems arise not just when the tooth becomes infected, but afterwards, and especially when the patient is avoiding that particular tooth because it is sensitive. In extreme cases of reoccurring infections, a root canal treatment may be required and this isn’t a pleasant experience. At the first sign of an abscess the dentist will try to save the tooth, antibiotics are prescribed to get the infection down, and pain killers will usually be recommended as well. An infection can take over a week to completely be treated, and in the meantime the dentist can do nothing to the tooth. After that the tooth can be removed if it is in a bad way, but your dentist will try to save it. Taking the tooth out will usually stop further infections, as will a rot canal treatment. Root canals are done where bacteria has managed to infiltrate deep down into the cavity of a tooth, the dentist will remove much of the inner part of the tooth and then clean it out. The hole will then be filled with an anti bacterial paste that hardens to replace the normal enamel of the tooth; this will leave no room for bacteria to accumulate in the future, and will usually cure the problem. Where the tooth is damaged by the abscess the dentist may find no alternate to an extraction, but as long as the jaw line is O.K. then a dental implant may be placed in the gap to replace the tooth, this will then take a few months to infuse with the bone, but the result is a natural feeling tooth and no more abscesses.

A Shepperton dentist explains wisdom teeth pain

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:51 +0000

Wisdom teeth are not a nice thing to have when they start to play up, says a Shepperton dentist. Not everyone develops wisdom teeth; they usually appear in the late teens and generally by the age of 21. They are the last teeth that we grow, and they grow on the end of each row of teeth on the inside of the jaw line. Wisdon teeth in general don’t cause us a problem, but sometimes they grow bigger that the space allowed for them, and that’s when the problem starts. Impacted wisdom teeth are the extreme of the problem and these are the worse case scenario, pain follows a swelling of the gums and infection will set in where the tooth cracks and allows bacteria to seep into the inner cavity. Extraction is only possible after a course of antibiotics and when the swelling has disappeared completely, but it may not be necessary and your dentist will advice you on all the options. Your dentist will generally be able to extract the tooth or teeth, but in some extreme cases it may need the skills of a surgeon. Infection is a big risk so keeping the wound clean is a very must-do after a wisdom tooth extraction; this may include not smoking for a few days while the deep wound heals. It is generally done under a local anaesthetic although a general may be needed in some rare cases, this will be done by a dental surgeon in a hospital theatre. Stitches will be needed and a follow up appointment will be made at the dentist afterwards, these are usually self dissolving stitches and the healing process can take up to a few weeks to completely heal the wound. The removal will stop any further problems, and it is usually the end of any future tooth pain on those particular teeth.