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What Are the Risks of Getting a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction is not a procedure that most people look forward to at the dentist, but in some cases it is necessary. Impacted wisdom teeth, as well as teeth that have formed an abscess or have decayed or broken, usually require an extraction. Along with the pain and fear of the actual procedure, there are many potential complications that you should consider and prepare for before an extraction.

  1. Heavy Bleeding

    • According to Dr. Michael Florman, DDS, with the New York University School of Graduate Orthodontics, the head and neck contain a lot of blood vessels, which can present a problem for the dentist performing an extraction. Not only can there be heavy bleeding; it is also impossible to apply heavy pressure to the area to stop it. Also, enzymes in saliva interfere with normal blood clotting. To prevent major complications due to heavy bleeding, the dentist will usually perform a thorough check of the patient's medical history to look for any conditions, such as high blood pressure or hepatitis, which may make bleeding worse.

    Dry Socket

    • Dry socket is a painful condition in which the blood clot that forms after a tooth extraction becomes dislodged or dissolves, leaving an empty socket that exposes the bone. The exposed bone is susceptible to infection and inflammation, causing a great deal of pain for the patient. On average, dry socket occurs in 3 percent of tooth extractions, and is more common after a single extraction than when multiple teeth are removed. Narcotics and topical analgesics can dramatically reduce pain until the healing process is complete.

    Infection

    • The mouth contains a lot of bacteria, especially in people who don't practice good oral hygiene. This makes infection a very common problem after extractions, according to Dr. Martin Spiller, D.M.D. Common symptoms of infection include swelling of the gums, tongue or face, tenderness, bleeding around the gumline and pus around the tooth. Even in people with good oral hygiene, infection can still occur as a result of an extraction, because it is impossible to completely sterilize the mouth in preparation for surgery. To prevent or treat an infection, the patient will usually be given a round of prescription antibiotics.

    Broken Jaw

    • Most dentists who perform extractions do not place a great amount of pressure on the area to do so. The tooth is generally eased out using surgical instruments and a minimum amount of force. However, Dr. Spiller says that in the case of a more fragile jawbone, a fracture can occur and usually the patient is warned by the dentist about this possibility. He also maintains that the probability of a jaw fracture for a particular person will be the same no matter what dentist performs the procedure.

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