Tooth Extractions in Abilene, Texas

A tooth extraction should not hurt. The tooth, the surrounding jaw bone, and the gums are numbed with a local anesthetic first, and we wait until the area is fully numb before beginning. What you will feel is firm pressure as the tooth is rocked to widen the socket, which is normal and expected. A local anesthetic blocks the nerve fibres that carry pain while leaving the fibres that sense pressure largely unaffected, which is why pressure without pain is the usual experience. If you feel any actual pain at any point, tell us straight away and more anesthetic is given before we continue.

Most patients feel noticeably better within three to four days, the gum closes over the socket in roughly one to two weeks, and the bone underneath continues remodelling for several months. Swelling typically peaks around forty eight hours and then settles. A simple extraction of a single rooted tooth heals faster than a surgical or sectioned extraction of a molar. Healing is slower for smokers, for people with diabetes, and for anyone who disturbs the blood clot early, which is why the first seventy two hours matter most. Rest on the day of treatment and keep the socket clean, and recovery is usually straightforward.

Dry socket, known clinically as alveolar osteitis, happens when the blood clot in the extraction socket is dislodged or breaks down before the gum has healed, exposing the underlying bone. The main sign is severe, throbbing pain that begins two to four days after the extraction rather than immediately, often spreading toward the ear, sometimes with a bad taste or odour. It is the most common complication after a tooth extraction and it is largely preventable. For the first seventy two hours avoid drinking through a straw, smoking, rinsing vigorously, drinking alcohol, and brushing directly over the site. Smoking is the single largest risk factor. If you think you have dry socket, call our Abilene, Texas office during opening hours, because the socket can be cleaned and dressed and the relief is usually rapid.

Eat soft, nourishing food that needs little chewing for the first day or two, and drink plenty of fluids. Good choices include soup that is not hot, yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potato, oatmeal, and smoothies eaten with a spoon rather than through a straw, since suction can dislodge the clot. Avoid very hot food and drinks on the first day, alcohol, and anything crunchy, seedy, or sharp such as crisps, nuts, popcorn, and rice, which can lodge in the socket. Chew on the opposite side. Return to your normal diet as soon as chewing feels comfortable, which for most patients is within a few days.

In most cases yes, and planning the replacement before the extraction usually gives the better result. When a tooth is removed the teeth either side gradually drift into the gap, the opposing tooth over erupts because nothing meets it, chewing becomes less efficient, and the bone that once supported the root begins to shrink. That bone loss matters most if you are considering a dental implant later, because waiting years can mean needing a bone graft first. Common replacement options are a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture, and Dr. Christie Leedy will discuss which suits your situation at the same visit as the extraction plan.

Call our office during opening hours if you have heavy bleeding that does not settle after firm pressure with gauze, severe pain that starts two to four days after the extraction, swelling that keeps worsening after three days, a fever, numbness that has not worn off after a day, or any reaction to prescribed medication. Mild discomfort, minor oozing on the first day, and swelling that peaks at forty eight hours are all normal and do not need a call. If symptoms are severe or worsening quickly and our office is closed, seek urgent medical care rather than waiting. To book a visit, call 325-692-3344 or visit Abilene Dental at 5309 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas 79606. We welcome walk in visits during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm, and do our best to see patients in pain the same business day.