Tooth Extractions in Greenville & Landrum, 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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A simple extraction is used when the tooth is fully visible above the gumline and can be loosened and removed with standard dental instruments. A surgical extraction is needed when the tooth is impacted, partially erupted, or broken below the gumline. This is common with wisdom teeth. Your dentist will let you know which type you need based on your digital imaging and examination.

Wisdom tooth removal is typically recommended when impacted third molars are causing pain, crowding, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth. Some dentists recommend proactive removal in the late teens or early twenties to prevent future complications. During your visit at Wood Creek Dental, we'll use imaging to evaluate your wisdom teeth and advise you on the best timing for removal.

Stick to soft foods for the first few days, such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, smoothies (no straw), and scrambled eggs. Avoid crunchy, hard, or spicy foods that could irritate the extraction site. You can gradually return to your regular diet as the area heals and you feel more comfortable chewing.

In most cases, yes, especially for teeth in visible or load-bearing areas of your mouth. Leaving a gap can cause neighboring teeth to shift, lead to bone loss, and affect your bite over time. Wood Creek Dental offers dental implants, bridges, and dentures as replacement options. Your dentist will discuss which solution is right for your specific situation.

If you have only local anesthesia, you can typically drive yourself home. However, if you opt for oral sedation or any form of conscious sedation, you'll need a friend or family member to drive you. We'll discuss sedation options during your consultation so you can plan ahead for your appointment day.