Category Archives: Dental Health Articles
Tooth Removal – Causes, Procedure and Post Extraction Care
In simple language, tooth extraction is removal of tooth from mouth, more precisely, tooth is removed from its socket in the bone.
# Causes for removal of tooth/teeth:-
– Most common cause for tooth removal is damaged or grossly decayed tooth.
– Tooth/ teeth with abscesses & swelling.
– Most common reason for tooth removal in Adults is periodontitis.
– Tooth with fracture line & fractured teeth.
– Peaple getting orthodontic treatment/braces may require removal of teeth that are being moved into place.
– Wisdom teeth somethimes get stuck in the jaw (i.e. get impacted) may require extraction/removal.
# Procedure for tooth removal/extraction-
–> Before doing tooth extraction dentist/oral surgeon will take Medical & Dental history of patient.
–> Dentist/oral surgeon will then evaluate tooth by clinically & if requiredradiograph (X ray / IOPA) will be taken.
–> Then Dentist/Oral Surgeon will proceed with extraction (removal) of tooth if patient dosenot have any severe medically compromised codition or any other complication/contraindication.
–> Tooth extraction (removal) can be done by two ways:-
1. Simple ( Closed/Forcep) Extraction.
2. Open (Surgical) Extraction.
–> Time required for tooth extraction (removal) may vary depending upon tooth condition & extraction method.
Open (Surgical) Extraction procedure is completed by dentist in 15-30 minuites.
–> Simple extraction procedure is done by Dentist/Oral Surgeon under local anaesthesia which is given to numb the tooth & when the tooth & surrounding mucosa is anaesthetized, Dentist/Oral Surgeon will proceed with tooth extraction procedure.
Tooth extraction procedure involves removal of tooth from its bony socket which require loosening of soft tissue attachment from tooth & luxation of tooth using dental extraction instrument. Lastly removal of tooth from its bony socket is done with the help of
specific dental dental forcep. Then after careful inspection of extraction socket dentist will give guaze pack to stop bleeding & to achieve hemostais.
Postoperative/Postextraction instruction are given to the patient.
–> Postoperative instruction given to patient after a simple or closed extraction–
Following Postextraction instruction is very essential to avoid unnecessary pain or complications os infection or swelling.
# Immedediately after extraction–
* Bite on the cotton guazepack placed over extraction site for 45 minutes to 1 hour, after that remove it gently.
* Maintain contant pressure or guaze ( No talking or chewing).
* Do not spit or suck through a straw. If bleeding persists at home, place a clean guaze pad over the sockt & bite it firmly for 30 minutes.
* You can also bite on a moistereed tea bag for thirty minutes. (Tannic acid in the tea bag helps to from a clot by contracting bleeding venels).
* Some blood will ooze from the area of surgery for several hours which is normal.
* Avoid vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound with tongue etc following extraction.
* To minimize any swelling, you can place ice packs to the side of face over extraction area.
* Take prescribed pain medication as soon as possible.
* Get plenty of rest at least 8-10 hours of sleep 7 avoid vigorous excercize during first 24 hours after tooth removal.
* Do not smoke under any circumstances (atleast for 48 hrs after surgery).
– > Diet
* Use soft or liquid diet high in protein.
* Drink large amount of water & fruit juices (Do not use straw).
* Avoid hot food for a whole day after tooth removal.
# Some important points to be taken into considenration–>
* Some pain or discomfort is normal after tooth removal surgery which can be controlled by taking pain medication prescibed by your dentist / oral surgeon.
* Donot drive an automobile or work around heavy machinery under pain medication.
* Do not mix alcohol & pain medication.
* Swelling after surgery is normal body reaction, applying icepacks over the area for the first 24 hours and not longer than 20 minutes at a time, helps to control swelling.
Do not use hot fermentation (do not apply heat).
* Low grade temperature (99-100F) for 7-10 days following tooth removal is normal.
* You may experience some mild bruising in the area of surgery, which is also normal and will dissapear in 7-14 days.
* If sutures/stitches were placed in the area of tooth extracted then your dentist/oral surgeon will tell when sutures/stitches need to be removed (usually in about a week and if sutures are self-dissolving they don’t require removal).
* Contact your dentist for any doubt or severe discomfort.
Lifestyle, Diet and Dental Health
Dental health is largely influenced by diet and lifestyle and there is correlation between diet, lifestyle and dental health. Dental health is not merely absence of dental disease but it is complete well being of teeth as well as structures and tissues in oral cavity.
But how many of us, in our busy lifestyle actually stop and think about dental health care? With the advent of innovative snacks and fast foods as well as innovation of technology such as television, computers, mobiles, internet etc , lifestyles of a person has changed drastically which is affecting physical, social and overall body health so as dental health!
How lifestyle affects dental health -
Lifestyle is separate factor that can influence oral health biologically.
Studies have shown that there is inverse relation between frequency of tooth brushing to dental caries. Oral hygiene habits are correlated with healthy food consumption, use of vitamines and regular physical activities among adolescents (Nutbeam et al 1989).
Relationship between general health, social factors and oral health in woman at age of retirement were analyzed in studies by P Norlen, H Ostberg and A L Bjorn. The study was performed in Malmo in 1985-86 included 165 women retiring from work. Women with high intake of energy had more decayed tooth surfaces than other women. Edentulous women and women with removable dentures consumed more coffee than those women with many remaining teeth.
Components of lifestyle like dietary habits, oral hygiene practices (such as brushing ,flossing), smoking, alcohol consumption affects dental health.
People with less active life style had more symptoms related to teeth and gums and they visit dentist less often (Peterson and Nortov 1989).
How diet affects dental health -
Frequency and type of diet always have prominent effect on dental health. Fibrous food is more beneficial than high calorie highly cooked food for keeping good oral hygiene.
Snacks in between meals have negative (inverse) relation with decay of teeth or say ‘dental caries’.
Sugar is a principal factor that cause dental caries. The sugars containing dental caries, in decreasing order of cariogenicity are Sucrose, Glucose and Fructose.
In 1967, Ernest Newburn described Sucrose as ‘the arch criminal of dental caries’. This statement was based upon studies of sugar consumption per capita which shown that high caries prevalance was associated with high sugar consumption.
Vipeholm studies (1945-55) were done on patients of Vipeholm Mental Hospital in Lund, Sweden, which shown that frequency of eating and nature of sugar-containing food influenced cariogenicity. Sticky form of sugars like Caramel and chocolates are shows more cariogenicity.
No doubt sucrose is responsible for dental caries. The easiest way to prevent caries is to eliminate sucrose from the diet, but it is very difficult because sucrose is very rich source of energy available in plenty amount and most importantly it is cheap. Majority of people enjoy eating food containing sucrose.
So there have been many attempts to identify non cariogenic sugar substitute for sucrose. Some of them are Xylitol, Sorbitol, Saccharine and Cyclamate. But due to unmatching properties with sucrose, these substitutes are not being used widely. In early 1970′s studies led by professors Kauko K Makinen and Arje Scheinin (University of Turku, Finland), first discovered positive uses of xylitol in dentistry and proved that xylitol is an important supplement in prevention of dental caries.
Intake of sugar is essential for overall health however dietary control is the most important factor in prevention of dental caries.
Thus, Balanced ‘Diet’ and Healthy ‘Lifestyle’ is the important need to raise ‘Dental Health’ status.
Keep Reading..!!!
~ magicaldentistry 
How to Floss Teeth
Flossing your teeth is also as important as brushing of your teeth. Many of us skip flossing after brushing, they think their mouth feels clean after brushing but it is wrong, The ADA recommends brushing twice daily and cleaning between teeth with floss (or another interdental cleaner) once daily.
Flossing teeth removes food and plaque trapped between the teeth which in turn helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
You can use dental floss before you brush, the fluoride from the toothpaste has a better chance of reaching between teeth.
I found best video demonstrating ‘How to Floss Teeth’ on youtube Uploaded by ColgateOralCare.
