Tooth Extractions & Wisdom Teeth Removal in Boiling Springs & Inman, SC

It depends on the patient and how fast they typically heal from minor surgeries as well as how many teeth are being removed. Patients should always plan to take the rest of the day off after having one or more teeth extracted. Over the next couple of days, it’s important to continue taking it easy and eating soft foods that require minimal chewing, otherwise, the healing process can be disrupted. After about a week or two, you should feel comfortable eating crunchy and chewy foods again and fully getting back to your normal routine.

Before the extraction process begins, our team will inject a local anesthetic into the gums near the tooth to completely numb your mouth. This prevents patients from feeling pain and discomfort, although you may still be able to feel some pressure on your teeth. Once the numbness begins to wear off, you can take over-the-counter pain medication and use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling, or our team may prescribe medication for you as well. If you experience any severe pain at any point, please get in touch with our office right away.

Our team wants to help you keep your natural teeth as often as possible. Regular dental visits and scheduling restorative treatments promptly can help prevent an advanced procedure like a dental extraction from becoming necessary. Tooth infections, for example, can eventually require a dental extraction if a root canal is not performed in time. Other times, dental extractions are needed as part of an orthodontic treatment plan or due to crowding. Not sure what your smile needs? Feel free to schedule a consultation with our practice.

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After a tooth removal procedure, soft foods are recommended for the first few days. Good options include yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, applesauce, smoothies, scrambled eggs, and pasta. Avoid crunchy, spicy, or hard foods while the extraction site heals.

Wisdom teeth removal may be recommended if your wisdom teeth are impacted, causing pain, swelling, infection, crowding, or damage to nearby teeth. Some patients may need preventive wisdom teeth extraction even before symptoms develop.

Dry socket is a condition that can occur when the protective blood clot at the extraction site becomes dislodged too early. This can expose the underlying bone and nerves, causing pain and delayed healing. Following aftercare instructions carefully can help reduce the risk of dry socket.

Many patients return to work or school within 24 hours after a simple tooth extraction. However, wisdom teeth removal or surgical extractions may require additional recovery time. We’ll provide personalized guidance based on your procedure.

A tooth extraction may be necessary if the tooth is severely decayed, fractured below the gumline, infected beyond repair, or affected by advanced gum disease. Our team always explores restorative treatment options first whenever possible.

Some tooth extractions are considered dental emergencies, especially if there is severe pain, swelling, infection, trauma, or an abscess. Emergency tooth removal can help relieve pain and prevent the spread of infection.

Leaving an infected tooth untreated can allow the infection to spread to nearby teeth, gums, jawbone, or other parts of the body. Prompt tooth extraction or treatment can protect your overall oral health and reduce the risk of serious complications.

After a tooth extraction, missing teeth can often be replaced with dental implants, bridges, or dentures. Replacing missing teeth can help restore chewing function, prevent shifting teeth, and maintain your smile’s appearance.

The cost of a tooth extraction depends on factors such as the complexity of the procedure, whether the tooth is impacted, and your dental insurance coverage. We’re happy to discuss treatment costs and financing options during your consultation.