How To Relieve Numbness After Tooth Extraction?
Numbness After Tooth Extraction
Simple tooth extractions are usually performed under local anesthesia to make the operation painless. For this reason, there may be a feeling of numbness in the mouth after tooth extraction. This numbness is normal and will go away on its own a few hours after tooth extraction. You should be careful not to bite your tongue, lips or the inside of your cheek while numbness persists after tooth extraction.
What is Tooth Extraction?
The process of removing a tooth from its socket in the jawbone is called tooth extraction. This procedure may be necessary for a variety of reasons, such as advanced tooth decay, infection, damage from trauma or if a wisdom tooth cannot erupt properly. In some physical situations where it is impossible to save the tooth (severe damage to the teeth or severe bone deficiency around the tooth), extraction may be the only solution.
Of course, before the tooth is extracted, this situation is first discussed in detail with the patient, taking into account all options. Tooth extraction, performed by a professional dentist (dental surgeon), is only a routine procedure and heals quickly and easily if appropriate treatment is given. This treatment is painless as the area is completely numb after local anesthesia. However, numbness may occur after tooth extraction due to local anesthesia.
The feeling of numbness after tooth extraction may cause some injuries in the mouth if care is not taken. For this reason, the patient should take care not to bite his cheeks and tongue after the procedure. The patient can return to his/her daily life when the feeling of numbness after tooth extraction disappears.
How Is Tooth Extraction Performed?
Before the tooth extraction, the dental surgeon will apply local anesthesia to numb the area around the affected tooth. He or she will then loosen the tooth from its socket using specialized instruments and gently remove it. In some cases, the extraction may require an incision to be made in the gum or the tooth to be cut into pieces to make it easier to remove.
When the tooth is fully visible and there are no cracks or fractures, a simple extraction is performed. The tooth is loosened with an instrument called an elevator and then removed with forceps. If the tooth has not come out of the gum line or is broken, it may need to be surgically removed. During this procedure, a small incision is made in the gum line to remove the impacted tooth or tooth fragment.
These procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Local anesthesia prevents the patient from feeling pain or soreness during the procedure. However, local anesthesia also causes a feeling of numbness after tooth extraction. The feeling of numbness after tooth extraction is normal and will disappear spontaneously a few hours after the procedure.
In Which Situations Is Tooth Extraction Necessary?
First of all, it is important to know when tooth extraction is necessary. Although preservation of natural teeth is always the ideal goal, in some cases extraction may be necessary. However, it is important to remember that less invasive options other than tooth extraction should be explored whenever possible. That said, here are some of the reasons why tooth extraction may be necessary:
- Impacted teeth An impacted tooth is a tooth that cannot fully erupt from the gum and is trapped under the gum. This can lead to inflammation and infection, causing pain and discomfort. Removing the impacted tooth can help prevent future problems, and this is quite common with wisdom teeth.
- Decay and infections: Deep decay and dental infections can damage the pulp of the tooth, making extraction necessary. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other teeth and even the jawbone.
- Broken teeth: In this case, the first option should be to try to repair the broken teeth with restorations and prostheses, but if this is not possible, tooth extraction is an alternative.
- Orthodontic problems: Orthodontic problems that may require tooth extraction include crooked, misaligned or overlapping teeth. This occurs when teeth are too close together and do not leave enough space to allow for proper alignment. Removing one or more teeth can therefore create space for the remaining teeth to move into their correct position in the mouth.
- Extra teeth Extra teeth that should not be in the mouth can interfere with biting and tooth alignment, making extraction necessary.
- Wisdom teeth Wisdom teeth are usually removed because they can remain impacted and cause pain or problems with tooth alignment.
What Should Be Considered Before Tooth Extraction?
Although tooth extraction itself is generally a very safe medical procedure, the procedure can cause harmful bacteria to enter the circulatory system. The gum tissue is also at risk of infection. If there is a high risk of developing a serious infection for another medical reason, antibiotics will be necessary before and after tooth extraction.
A complete medical history should be shared with the dentist before tooth extraction. In addition to regular medications and supplements, conditions such as damaged or artificial heart valves, congenital heart defects, impaired immune system, liver disease (cirrhosis), bacterial endocarditis should be reported to the dentist.
What Should Be Considered After Tooth Extraction?
After tooth extraction, the dentist sends the person home to recover. There are some steps that can be taken to minimize the discomfort that may be experienced during the healing process and to reduce the risk of infection. First of all, painkillers should be used as prescribed. It is necessary to bite hard but gently on the gauze placed by the dentist to reduce bleeding and to prevent clot formation in the tooth socket. It is necessary to change the gauze pads before the blood is completely absorbed.
Applying an ice pack to the affected area immediately after tooth extraction will help prevent swelling. This ice pack should be applied for 10 minutes at a time. After tooth extraction, it is necessary to rest for at least 24 hours and restrict activities for one or two days. You should also avoid rinsing the area with water or spitting vigorously for 24 hours after tooth extraction to prevent the clot formed in the socket from dislodging. You can rinse your mouth with a mixture of half a teaspoon of salt and a glass of warm water 24 hours after the procedure.
Foods such as soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding or applesauce should be consumed after tooth extraction. As the extraction site heals, you should gradually transition to solid foods.
Straws should not be used for the first 24 hours. To speed up healing, smoking should be avoided during the healing process. When lying down, the head should be supported high and held in place with a pillow. Lying flat can prolong the bleeding process.
How Long Does Tooth Extraction Take?
The tooth extraction process is faster than you might think. The entire tooth extraction procedure, from the administration of anesthesia to the application of stitches if necessary, usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes. However, if more than one tooth needs to be extracted, the procedure will take longer.
What Are the Precautions to Avoid the Need for Tooth Extraction?
One of the best and simplest ways to prevent tooth extractions is to make sure you have good oral hygiene. A simple habit such as brushing and flossing your teeth properly twice a day can significantly eliminate the risk of developing disease and infection.
Proper nutrition also plays a vital role in preventing the need for a tooth extraction procedure and ensures that your body gets the nutrients it needs to fight infection. A poor diet of foods rich in sugar, carbohydrates and starches can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to preventive dental care is that they only go to the dentist when there is a problem. Just because your teeth look healthy does not mean that the infection is not spreading slowly. Going for cleanings and examinations every six months should be enough to catch any decay or disease early. Remember that every person is different, so some may need to visit the dentist more often.
How To Relieve Numbness After Tooth Extraction?
Dental anesthesia is commonly used in many types of procedures. Local anesthetics temporarily numb an area to improve patient comfort. Usually, local anesthesia takes effect within 10 minutes and lasts for about 30-60 minutes.
General anesthesia is sometimes used during oral surgery, including wisdom tooth removal. After the procedure, patients may feel numbness or tingling. In most cases, numbness after tooth extraction disappears within a few hours.
Your lips, teeth, cheek and/or tongue may be numb for several hours after the procedure. To avoid injury, you should avoid chewing or hot drinks until the numbness after tooth extraction has completely disappeared. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue, cheek or lip when it is numb.
The duration of numbness after tooth extraction may vary from patient to patient. In some patients, the feeling of numbness after tooth extraction passes within 3-4 hours, while in some patients this period may be longer. Depending on factors such as what kind of diet the patient adopts before the procedure and whether he/she does sports, the feeling of numbness after tooth extraction may pass in a shorter time.
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