A tooth that is severely damaged may need to be removed. A surgeon who specializes in surgeries of the mouth (oral and maxillofacial surgeon) or the dentist can do a Tooth Extraction.

Before removing your tooth, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. A stronger, general anesthetic may be used, especially if several or all of your teeth need to be removed. General anesthetic prevents pain in the whole body and will make you groggy or sleep through the procedure.

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. You can gently bite down on a cotton gauze pad placed over the wound to help stop the bleeding. The removed tooth can be replaced with an implant, a denture, or a bridge. A bridge is a replacement for one or more (but not all) of the teeth and may be permanent or removable.

In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. The following will help speed recovery:

• Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Make your own salt water by mixing 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (237 ml)] of warm water.
• Change gauze pads before they become soaked with blood.
• Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
• Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
• Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
• Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue.
• Continue to carefully brush your teeth and tongue

What about if a stitch comes out and there's a hole there.

I had stitches after they cut my gums to clean up the top as there was an abcess.

I am way to scared to go back to get another one put in..

I looked like the elephant woman and the pain was horrid, and my work won't allow another healing week...

Will it close by itself or skin heal over that area, i am using mouth wash that they gave me, but will also use salt water, thought of that yesterday.

You or someone may know the answer!

Honey, I am trying....Good luck...

Thanks Caroline.

I have an appointment next Thursday, and the hole is somewhat closing and thank god, no more pain killers!!!!

I'm a Real Estate Agent, and own my own business, now covering my face would be one thing, imagine not being able to speak!!!! That's my business .... lol..xx

I was stressing a bit, because i worried about infection, but the teeth are stuffed anyway due to smoking so more than likely the back ones will come out at some stage. ( shhh don't tell anyone) ...

Better in bed anyway when they're all gone......

Never mind, thanks for your advice and before you say anything, yep, giving it a go tomorrow, have two days off, go through the withdrawl then.

Forgot to answer this one. If a stitch comes out I think a stitch just comes out....But I now remember when they did that big surgery on my lower jaw that the nurse asked him if he was going to stitch it and he told her, no, that he was going to leave it open....There was an optinion. I believe the reason for this was that it was so massive that to close it would have made the chances for infection so much worse. I recall that I had to call him two weeks later for more pills and then again called a couple months afterwards. It healed so slowly that it didn't seem to be healing. It is still so very tender as it went into the jaw. I never could understand how they missed it but it happened.

I smoked up until about 15 years ago. I was convinced that it would help my golf game. I thought it was a good excuse. Never helped much but beat my husband a couple times and one of my son's once....Oh, and I told somewhere below where we have been married 50 years ago this November so if I married at 21 I guess you can add....Now if you believe I am that old then I know someone that has a Bridge in London for sale....Make you a good deal honey.....Lord, how I love life.....

smoked up until about 15 years ago. I was convinced that it would help my golf game. I thought it was a good excuse. Never helped much but beat my husband a couple times and one of my son's once....Oh, and I told somewhere below where we have been married 50 years ago this November so if I married at 21 I guess you can add....Now if you believe I am that old then I know someone that has a Bridge in London for sale....Make you a good deal honey.....Lord, how I love life.....


Hi Caroline...

You really have that "warped sense of humor" and i love it....

I always said, when i have children, but that didn't eventuate, then it was, when i'm not so stressed at work, now, because i want to, i smoke more, because i know that day is coming.... Additions hey!!! Perhaps, i'll just keep travelling with my new addiction, which is the same as your addiction and therefore, stop ...lol.

You know i don't sell bridges, only houses, so no deal!!!! And, me to..x

But as for your age? Who cares, your in your element and loving every minute of it, and as i keep telling you, i know at least, i have a few years to catch up there, and will.....

Get back to you on that in 3 years time ok...lol.

last year i had my 2 of my wisdom tooth taken out.. because i could not clot like others do.. the dentist had to stich my gums close where he extracted the tooth.. it was hard to eat, but after 2 weeks it healed pretty well and the hole closed up