Other factors are:
- A congested mouth
- Infection
- The risk of infection
- Gum disease
What to expect with tooth extraction? Before extracting the tooth, your dentist will give you an injection of a local anesthetic who numbs the area where the tooth/teeth will be extracted. If you're having multiple teeth removed or a tooth is damaged, your dentist might use a general anesthetic, this will stop pain all through your body making you sleep through the procedure.
If the tooth is damaged, the dentist will cut away bone and gum tissue, which cover the tooth and then, with the help of forceps, grasp the tooth and delicately rock it to and fro to loosen it from the ligaments and jaw that hold it in position. At times, a tooth that is hard to extract should be removed in bits.
As soon as the tooth has been removed, the dentist will pack a gauze pad into the socket and get you to bite down on it to stop the bleeding. At times the dentist will place some stitches, typically self-dissolving, to shut the gum edges over the extraction removal site.
What to tell your dentist before you have a tooth removed Before having a tooth extracted, allow your dentist know your whole health background, the supplements and medication you take, and if you have one of the following:
- Man-made or damaged heart valves
- A history of bacterial endocarditis
- A congenital heart defect
- An impaired immune system
- Liver disease (cirrhosis)
- An artificial joint, like a hip replacement
When to contact the dentist
If bleeding continues or pain is severe for over 4 hours after the extraction, you must call your dentist. You must also contact your dentist if you experience any of the following:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Signs of infection, which include chills or fever
- Chest pain, cough or shortness of breath
- Excessive discharge, redness or inflammation from the affected area