What To Do Before A Tooth Extraction In Fairview

As a child, you remember how exciting and rewarding it was to lose a tooth. You’d receive a coin from the tooth fairy every time you’d lose a tooth.  Oh, the good old days!  However, losing teeth as an adult isn’t that fancy. When you lose a tooth as an adult, you won’t receive money from tooth fairy or high-fives from your parents and siblings. Instead, you’d experience gloved hands with a glistening dental tool in your mouth. Not so comforting, right?
Tooth extraction can sure be stressful. Whether it is for removing impacted wisdom teeth, tooth decay, gum disease, overcrowded teeth, tooth breakage, or trauma, you’ll be in good care at Sloan Creek Dental. By being fully prepared for the procedure in advance you’ll relieve some of that stress. Here’s a quick rundown on what you can do before your tooth removal in Fairview.

Asking Questions Helps

Do you have any questions about your tooth extraction procedure? If so, ask them before your dental extraction procedure so you can better prepare for it. Here’s a tip: Prepare a list of questions regarding tooth removal that you’d want your dentist to answer. This way, you’d understand the tooth extraction procedure inside and out as we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have as we want you to feel comfortable and stress free as possible.  

Sharing your medical history

Before you get the dental procedure done, it’s very important for you to share your complete medical history. When it comes to discussing your history with your dental provider, it should be comprehensive. Your medical history should include the following specifics.

  • Do you suffer from bacterial endocarditis? Or have you suffered from this infection in the past?
  • Do you have a congenital heart defect?
  • Do you have any mechanical heart valves?
  • Have you suffered from liver disease?
  • Do you have an impaired immune system?
  • It is important that you inform your dentist if you will be treated for another medical condition.

These, and many other conditions, may make a patient more prone to having infections once the dental surgery is performed. It’s also important to let your dental provider know about the current medications you’re taking. That way, dental providers will know how to avoid possible drug collisions and what type of local anesthesia they should administer. For example, if you’re on blood thinners, your dentist may advise you to discontinue taking them before the procedure in order to  minimize the risk of excessive bleeding during the tooth extraction surgery.

Stopping your food intake before the procedure

Generally, you should stop eating 12 hours before your tooth removal surgery. This way, you can avoid feeling nauseated while undergoing the surgery and even after it is over. If, however, you’re supposed to take a local anesthetic, you’ll likely not require fasting for that long. Additionally, it’ll be important for you to let your dental provider know if you have any condition such as diabetes that won’t let you fast for so long. Remember, if you smoke, then you won’t be allowed to do that for 12 hours before the procedure and for 24 hours after the surgery has taken place. The post-surgery time is the best phase to quit your habit of smoking for good. That’s because smoking after the procedure will definitely slow down the healing process.

What should I do following a tooth Extraction?

After your tooth extraction procedure, it’s very important to take care of the area to promote healing and avoid an infection. It’s recommended that you keep the site clean and follow the recovery process to help you heal properly.

  • For at least the next few hours, keep clean gauze on the extraction site. As necessary, replace the gauze pad with new strips of gauze to keep the area clean
  • Apply ice at 10-minute intervals to minimize swelling
  • Minimize the pain by taking prescribed medication and or antibiotics as directed by the dentist
  • Get plenty of rest for the first 24 hours after an extraction
  • Do not brush, floss, or use antibacterial mouthwash near the extraction until it is safe to do so.  Rinsing your mouth with toothpaste may dislodge the blood clot.
  • Eat soft foods, such as yogurt or applesauce for the first 24 hours
  • When your mouth can tolerate soft foods, gradually add solid foods
  • 24 hours after a tooth extraction, rinse your mouth with warm water (1/2 teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of warm water)

Safely undergo a tooth removal procedure

You now know the things that you have to keep in mind before proceeding with a procedure for tooth extraction in Allen or Fairview. But the question is, where to find a reliable dental office near you in either Allen, Fairview, McKinney, or Lucas? Here’s where Sloan Creek Dental comes in. At our office located in Fairview, we are focused on your oral health and your needs.  We give give every patient our undivided attention to ensure you are taken care of.   Schedule an appointment with experienced dentists at Sloan Creek Dental today and take the first step toward restoring health and happiness in your smile.

FAQ on Tooth Extraction

Upon consultation with your dentist, tooth removal can be performed by either a dentist or an oral surgeon. For more severe cases, the dentist may refer you to see an oral surgeon for oral surgery; however, your local family dentist can usually extract your teeth for simple extractions.

A dry socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, is a painful dental condition that occurs when a blood clot at the tooth extraction site fails to heal properly. If the clot dislodges before it has time to heal, food can be trapped in the empty socket, providing a pathway for bacteria that cause dry socket. By following the recovery process recommended by your general dentist, you’ll decrease your chances of getting a dry socket.

Yes, dental insurance typically covers the cost of tooth extractions to some extent. If you have dental insurance, your plan should cover part of the costs of a tooth extraction and related expenses. Most dental insurance plans usually follow a 100-80-50 coverage structure, which means they cover preventive care at 100%, basic procedures (like extractions) at 80%, and major procedures at 50% or with a larger co-pay, which is the patient’s responsibility. 

Have more questions about tooth extractions?

To learn more about getting a tooth extracted, please call (972) 468-1440 or visit our website to book an appointment