We all dread visiting the dentist; we try to avoid the unpleasant experience at all costs! But when your gum starts throbbing and there is no escaping a mouth full of pain, you have to put your big boy pants on and make the trip. Whilst your dentist should first put every effort in to save your tooth and eradicate the pain, often extracting the tooth will be the only solution. If this is the case for you, perhaps you would like more information on the procedure and what to expect, just to ease your mind.

What is a tooth extraction?

A Tooth Extraction is a medical procedure where a tooth is surgically removed from the mouth. This procedure usually takes place at the dentist’s office and is performed by a licensed practitioner or specialist. A local or general anaesthetic is administered and when done correctly, the extraction should be quick and pain free. With the technology and preventative care that is available today, tooth extractions should be accepted as the last resort after all other methods of saving the tooth have been tried or at least considered.

Why would you need to extract a tooth?

There are a few reasons why it might be necessary to remove a tooth. Usually extractions are done when a tooth has decayed and is causing pain and inflammation. Rotting teeth can be harmful to the overall health of one’s body so it is important to rectify or eliminate the problem. Teeth are also often removed because they overcrowd each other. When wisdom teeth grow skew, they are usually removed to prevent other dental problems. In some instances gum disease will result in the extraction of a tooth.

The tooth extraction process.

As mentioned before, a tooth extraction procedure will require general or local anaesthetic to be administered. It is a simple surgery and can proceed from a minute up to an hour, depending on how many teeth need to be removed and how complex the problem is deemed. The dentist will use sterilized dental forceps and sometimes a dental drill during the surgery. On rare occasions a small incision will be made.

Aftercare guidelines:

After the procedure your dentist should give you instruction on how to care for the extraction area to ensure a healthy recovery. You will be prescribed some light-medium pain medication and you might also be required to take a course of antibiotics to avoid an infection. The wound might take a while to stop bleeding, if this happens, don’t panic. If the extraction continues to bleed for more than a day however, inform your Dr for medical advice.

Try and keep the extraction area as clean and as dry as possible. After about 6 months, the hole will have completely closed up with gum tissue. If the extraction area continues to ache and swell however, it might be infected and you should seek immediate medical attention from your dentist.

It is important to practice proper oral care to avoid dental problems; a good tooth brush, tooth paste and some dental floss can go a long way and are sure to aid in preventing nasty visits to the dentist. Never avoid visiting you dentist for too long however as regular check-ups could foresee potential problems and thus eradicate them before they occur. Perhaps making an appointment with your dentist right now is not such a bad idea?

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If you’re planning to have surgery to take out wisdom teeth, there are a few important things you need to know about post-operative care in order to make your wisdom teeth removal as safe and pleasant as possible. Below, we’ve outlined the five most important things to keep in mind as you enter the recovery process after your surgery.

1. Rest : the importance of rest and relaxation cannot be over-emphasized. During even the most minor of surgeries, the body undergoes trauma that only rest can help it recover from. So don’t return to school or work the next day — take a few days to a week to return to your normal routine.

2. Proper pain medication : after your surgery to take out wisdom teeth, you will be given one or more types of pain medication. The most important thing to remember is to take the medication exactly as you are told by your doctor, and make sure to take it before your pain becomes bad, since it will take a while for it to become effective.

3. Ice and Anti-inflammatories: you will likely experience some inflammation of the tissues in your mouth after your surgery. It is important to ice the jaw area, and to take an anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen, regularly or as directed by your doctor. Ice and anti-inflammatories will also help relieve pain.

4. Eat carefully: many people who have had surgery to take out wisdom teeth try to eat solid food too soon after their wisdom teeth removal. This can be dangerous, since solid food can knock out the protective blood clots that have formed over your wounds, possibly causing a nasty infection. So make sure to drink liquids and semi-solid, soft food for several days to a week after your surgery.

5. Beware what you put in your mouth : many people aren’t aware that after their wisdom teeth extraction , they will have to avoid two major culprits of infection and poor healing : drinking straws and cigarettes. Both of these things involve pulling air somewhat forcefully into the mouth, and therefore are quite likely to knock out one of those important blood clots. So take a break from smoking and any other habit that involves putting things in your mouth.

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Many Americans grew up getting money, typically a few bucks for every baby tooth they lost. Maybe you’re in the same boat right now with your own children. Where did this concept of giving swapping out a child’s tooth for a few dollars?

Child Tooth Loss Customs From the Past

Throughout history and cultures, there have been different tooth disposal traditions. In some cultures, the baby teeth were burned or swallowed. In some countries, a child’s tooth symbolized success in battle and were worn around the necks of warriors. During the Middle Ages, or Medieval Ages, the child’s tooth was often buried in a hole in the ground in order to avoid giving any indications to a witch that a child lived in the home. For a long time in Europe, it was tradition to give a child either money or a small gift when he or she lost their sixth tooth.

The idea of a fairy and leaving the tooth under a pillow came from a popular French child’s book from the 1800s. In the book a queen is imprisoned by an evil king. She eventually escapes with the help of a mouse who turns out to also be a fairy. For revenge, the mouse fairy knocks out the king’s tooth and hides it under his pillow.

The American tooth fairy that we know today didn’t make an appearance until the early 1950s. During this era Americans generally had more wealth and children were very important. As a result, a money-giving tooth fairy emerged. Like her fictional counterparts, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, the hype of the media also helped jumpstart her notoriety. However, her fame wasn’t widely well-known or popular until the late 1970s.

How Much?

There are many factors that have come into play regarding the Tooth Fairy’s “rate.” The biggest factor is the amount the child’s family can afford to spare. Another factor was how much the child’s peers received. As time has gone on, the rate of inflation, living costs and the value of the dollar has increased. Today, the estimated tooth fairy rate is around $3.25.

The Tooth Fairy phenomenon has now become worldwide to include countries like England, Canada, Ireland and Australia.

The Shedding of Baby Teeth

Children begin losing their primary, or baby teeth around the age of six. The teeth fall out in the same order in which they grew in, with the front, center incisors falling out first and the molars falling out last. These last teeth to be lost occur around the age of 12. A third set of molars, more commonly called wisdom teeth often don’t erupt until the late teenage years. These teeth don’t fall out on their own, but are surgically removed by the dentist. Not every patient needs their wisdom teeth pulled.

Most parents make the mistake of not caring for their child’s teeth as well as needed because of the inevitable shedding of baby teeth. While these teeth will eventually fall out, it is still important to take good care of them. Baby teeth that become decayed or fall out prematurely can have negative repercussions on the permanent, adult teeth growing in underneath as well as throwing off the correct positioning and growth of neighboring teeth.

Though most children quickly figure it out that it’s not the Tooth Fairy giving them money for their teeth, they are still appreciative of the couple bucks. If you have any concern about the development of your child’s baby teeth, it’s recommended that you schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist.

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Abstract: There is a little known but important connection between individual teeth and specific organs of the body. This connection is related to the meridians used by acupuncturists. A knowledgeable practitioner will attempt to determine if the source problem is with the tooth or the organ. Sometimes a serious organ problem can be resolved by the treatment or extraction of the related tooth. Other times, the organ is the source and nothing done to the teeth will help until the organ problem has been resolved. You probably have noticed that it is often difficult to tell exactly which tooth is the one hurting most. Narrowing the symptoms in the hunt for an affected tooth or organ can be frustrating and time consuming.

This information is offered as educational information only. It is not intended to be used by the reader as diagnostic data nor should any form of treatment be initiated based solely on the information contained here. — Dr, Dennis Raney, ND, author.

Teeth number 2, 3, 14 and 15; First and Second Upper Molars

Teeth number 2 and 3 are on the right side of the body and generally affect organs on the right side, while numbers 14 and 15 are on the left and generally affect organs on that side. Sometimes there is a “bleed-over” that causes some pain on the left for a tooth on the right, for instance, but generally, the practitioner will need to know as nearly exact as possible which side has the pain or, in the case of wisdom teeth, whether it is an upper or a lower tooth. You don’t want to have a tooth pulled from the left side, for instance, if the one affected is actually on the right side. You probably have noticed that it is often difficult to tell exactly which tooth is the one hurting most. Narrowing the symptoms in the hunt for an affected tooth or organ can be frustrating and time consuming.

The connections

These molars also affect (or are affected by) the mammary glands on that side. Additionally, the rearmost molar on each side affects the parathyroid while the forward molars affect the thyroid.

The tongue and the maxillary sinus on each side are affected by the pair of molars on that side. If you are having a problem with either molar of a pair, the organs are affected as if both teeth were creating a problem.

Vertebrae C1, C2, TH11, TH12, and L1 are connected to these teeth.

Segments of the spinal marrow and dermatomes affected are SC1, SC2, STH11, STH12, and SL1.

The pancreas is affected by these teeth.

Segments of the spinal marrow and dermatomes affected are SC1, SC2, SC8, STH5, STH6, STH7, SS1, and SS2.

The joints associated with the first two molars on both sides are jaw, anterior hip, anterior knee, and medial ankle.

Also affected by the molar connection are the esophagus and stomach.

Copyright 2005, Dennis Raney, USA.

About the author: Dennis Raney, ND, is a retired nationally ceritified naturopathic doctor and a certified natural health practitioner. Holding degrees from Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Dallas, and Trinity School of Natural Health. Dr. Raney retired after more than ten years of practice and is now working as an author and consultant in natural health practices. His latest website is www.survivingprostatecancer.com

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In a surgical procedure, incisions are made in order to treat a disease or injury. The tissues are cut to allow the required manipulation. Surgery is of different types, and they are divided into different classes on the basis of many factors like the surgery timing, purpose, and the type of equipment used.

The art of surgery is also known as “surgical procedure” or “operation”. Primarily, surgery is done by a surgeon. Typically, he performs the surgery with the assistance of other specialists like a surgical technologist, circulating nurse and anesthesia provider.

Types of Surgery

There are many types of surgery. Based on different parameters, they can be put under many categories.

Timing Based

This category involves different types of surgeries based on need and urgency.

1. Elective Surgery

As the name suggests, this type of surgery is optional. This type of procedure is planned in advance and is not ideal to deal with an emergency situation. Many procedures come under this category of elective surgery, such as cosmetic surgeries.

2. Semi-Elective Surgery

Semi-elective surgery is done in order to save a patient’s life. However, it can’t be done in an emergency.

3. Urgent Surgery

As the name suggests, urgent surgery is done only when the patient is stable.

4. Emergency Surgery

This type of procedure is done without any delay as the patient’s condition requires it. If not done right away, the patient’s life may be at risk.

Body Part Based

Based on the body part, this type of surgery is done. Usually, it’s done on a specific structure or organ system. Let’s know about other types.

1. Gastrointestinal Surgery

Gastrointestinal surgery is done in the digestive tract and the related organs, such as the esophagus, rectum, large intestine, small intestine, and stomach. Aside from this, it includes pancreas, gallbladder, and liver.

2. Orthopedic Surgery

This involves the muscles or bones of the patient. This medical specialty is related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the injuries of the nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, spine, bones and muscles.

3. Cardiovascular Surgery

It involves the surgical treatment of different disorders and diseases of the blood vessels and the heart. Examples include open heart surgery and vascular surgery.

4. Gynecology

This surgical specialty is related to the female reproductive system i.e. ovaries, vagina, and uterus.

5. Neurosurgery

This specialty involves the treatment of different disorders of the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and the brain.

6. Ophthalmology (Eyes)

Ophthalmology diagnosis and treats different disorders of the eye. Some common conditions include conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and cataracts.

7. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

This dental specialty helps to perform the diagnosis and treatment of many injuries, diseases, and defect of gums, teeth, and mouth. In other words, doctors perform these procedures for jaws repair, palate repair, facial injury repair and the repair of wisdom teeth.

8. Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology involves the procedures that treat the neck, head, nose, ears, and throat.

So, this was a brief introduction to different types of surgery based on body parts and timing. Hope this guide is helpful.

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