What to Expect After a Molar Extraction

Dental conditions can make it harder for your teeth to do their jobs properly. If the damage is severe enough, pulling the tooth (extraction) may be the best way to preserve your oral health. 

The process is a bit more complicated for molars because they are located at the back of the mouth. If you need molar extraction, knowing what to expect regarding the recovery process is important. 

If you live in the Richmond Hill, Georgia, area and are struggling with molar problems, Dr. Nils Anderson and our team at Village Dental are here to help.

Reasons teeth need extraction

Dental problems can cause severe tooth damage that could necessitate extractions. These conditions often lead to needing an extraction: 

• Tooth decay: cavities get under the enamel and destroy your teeth from within

• Fractures/ cracks: often caused by chewing hard food, infections, or accidents 

• Impacted tooth: a tooth trapped under the gumline

• Crowded teeth: a misalignment that causes teeth to push too close to each other

• Periodontitis: gum disease can damage teeth below the gums

• Dental injury: impacts to the mouth can lead to loose or broken teeth

In many cases, other treatments like fillings, crowns, or other methods will be used before extractions are considered.

How we extract teeth

Here are the methods for removing molars:

Simple 

A treatment where a local anesthetic is applied to numb the tooth. A tool called an elevator loosens the tooth while forceps remove it.

Surgical

This method often uses local and intravenous anesthetics for numbing and relaxation. A small incision is made into the gums to access the tooth. It may also require removing bone around the tooth or cutting it during the extraction process.

Molars (especially wisdom teeth) and severely broken teeth usually need surgical extraction. After removing the tooth, our team cleans the socket and fills it with gauze to stop any bleeding. 

Recovery and aftercare

The focus of recovering from a tooth extraction is to make sure the empty socket clots properly to reduce the risk of infection or dry socket. To help with this, manage the bleeding by pressing gauze in the socket until it stops. If excess bleeding occurs, call our office. Change the gauze as necessary. You will probably notice some swelling, pain, and bruising. 

Get plenty of rest, elevate your head, and use ice compresses. Avoid habits like spitting, rinsing, using straws, blowing your nose, or sneezing, as they can loosen the clot. 

Pain medications may be used as recommended or prescribed. In a week, you should be back to normal. However, the overall healing timeline varies from person to person.

Dental extractions can prevent further problems for your molars. If you need a dental extraction, make an appointment with Dr. Anderson and Village Dental today.