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How Many Teeth Can be Extracted at Once?

A tooth extraction is a procedure that occurs when teeth need to be pulled due to decay or other complications such as disease, trauma, or crowding. 

Extracting one tooth is a common dental procedure, but occasionally more than one tooth may need to be pulled.

Understanding the Procedure

The procedure for extracting multiple teeth at once is a bit more complicated than a simple single tooth extraction. You can live without one or two teeth without major consequences, but losing several teeth at once requires the jawbone to be reshaped to prepare for a dental bridge or dentures. 

There is no clear rule on the number of teeth that can safely be extracted in one sitting. The answer varies depending on your oral health situation and your oral surgeon’s recommendations. In some cases, a full-mouth extraction might be in order. 

Full-mouth extractions usually occur when patients are suffering some severe periodontal (gum) disease. This can lead to excessive tooth decay and infection that can only be stopped by removing all of the teeth.

Tooth Extraction Complications

In most cases, extracting multiple teeth can be done in one appointment lasting a few hours. In rare cases when complications arise, the extraction might span several appointments. 

Typically, the surgeon will try removing the teeth using forceps. If they encounter teeth that are broken, impacted, or have any other complications, they may need to cut into the gums and jaw to safely remove the tooth.

Sedation in Tooth Extractions

In a simple one or two tooth extraction, dentists and surgeons generally use local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth. However, IV sedation is commonly used for more extreme extractions involving multiple teeth.

IV sedation, also known as general anesthesia, is when the patient is put completely to sleep. This is extremely useful for multiple teeth extractions due to the length of the appointments and the potential for complications. 

Care After Tooth Extraction

Your dentist or oral surgeon will walk you through the steps for care after your tooth extraction, but some of the common after-care instructions include:

  • Keep gauze over the extraction site and change it frequently
  • Use prescription pain medication as needed
  • Apply ice or a cold compress
  • Eat a soft food diet
  • No smoking, drinking through a straw, coughing or sneezing
  • Rest and relax for 2-3 days, depending on the extent of the procedure
  • No mouth rinse for the first 24 hours
  • Additional care for stitches, if they were used

Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah is Here

Having multiple teeth extracted at once can seem daunting, but at Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah we do everything we can to make it as comfortable and painless as possible. Drs. Partridge and Maxfield are experienced in tooth extraction and a wide variety of other oral and facial surgeries.

We have offices in Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan, and Tooele, Utah. Contact us today for your free consultation!

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