You can know before you even arrive for your appointment that you need tooth extraction. This is because you’ll have severe tooth pain that will grow worse any time you chew or put any sort of pressure on it. You’ll also have swollen gums, and your jaw in this area will be stiff or painful too. If you have any of these signs, you’ll know that you need tooth extraction. Once you notice these signs, it’s important to have this procedure done as soon as possible. Failure to do so could result in your tooth growing more painful, becoming misaligned, or it may even grow infected.

When you come to our office for tooth extraction, we’ll give you a local anesthetic so you won’t feel any pain. After we finish the extraction, you’ll experience a little bit of swelling and pain. This is normal. You may want to take some over the counter painkilling medication or put an ice bag on this area so the pain diminishes and you don’t have any swelling.

We may also prescribe some prophylactic antibiotics since research has shown that these can help reduce the likelihood that either dry socket or infection may occur. If you’re having a third molar removed, you’re more likely to be prescribed these antibiotics. However, there are also times when we’ll prescribe antibiotics to keep an infection from causing complications.