How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
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.
Swelling and discoloration around the eye may occur. The application of a moist warm towel will help eliminate the discoloration. The towel should be applied continuously for as long as tolerable beginning 36 hours after surgery (remember ice packs are used for the first 36 hours only). A sore throat may develop.
The multiple tooth extraction recovery time remains the same for a single tooth or multiple teeth. You can expect to return to normal activities in 7- 10 days. If you need surgery for impacted wisdom teeth, the recovery time may exceed this by a few days.
In some cases, dentists remove all your teeth in one session and provide immediate dentures soon after. However, they prefer removing teeth in stages as described, and it is best to rely on the dentist's advice because they recommend the best approach for your unique needs.
One of the reasons people procrastinate getting their teeth removed and replaced with dentures is because they can't stand the thought of being toothless after having all their teeth removed in preparation for dentures. Luckily, this isn't the case, and at no point during the process will you walk around without teeth.
Remember that a full mouth extraction may require you not to eat or drink anything for 8-12 hours before the procedure, as it's a form of oral surgery. Your dentist will make you aware of what is expected of you before the time comes so that you can be prepared.
While it is normal to experience some pain after having multiple teeth removed, we do our best to help minimize discomfort in the hours and days following the procedure. This may include the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Use ice packs (externally) on the cheek near the surgical site. Apply ice for the first 48 hours only. Apply ice continuously while you are awake. For mild discomfort use aspirin, Tylenol, or any similar medication; two tablets every 3-4 hours.
Following any type of oral surgery, including a tooth extraction, you should sleep elevated for the first 2-3 nights. This allows your body to drain more of the fluid away from the extraction site. If you were to lie flat on your back, the amount of swelling is much more likely to increase.
If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline. Sore throat, pain when swallowing, and jaw muscle stiffness are not uncommon after oral surgery. This will subside in a few days.
Some patients who undergo tooth extraction may want to take a day off from work just to make sure they can rest well and address the immediate side effects of the procedure. Other patients may not need to spend a day recovering and will be able to return to work the next day so long as it is not physically demanding.
Molar teeth were found to be the most frequently extracted, with an increased number of extracted first premolars as a result of orthodontic treatment.
No Eating Before the Surgery
Let the dental provider know if you have a condition that doesn't allow you to fast, such as diabetes. It is also important to remember that you cannot smoke for 12 hours before the surgery and 24 hours after. In fact, this would be an ideal time to quit smoking for good.
Usually, mouth bleeding stops after a span of 24 hours from the time of your tooth extraction. Until then small amount of blood oozing out from the site of your surgery should not be intimidating!
After the procedure, one should expect some discomfort, swelling, sensitivity, or pain. The pain experienced is usually due to the underlying gum inflammation. What is considered “normal” pain is likely to last for about three days post-extraction.
Wearing immediate dentures right away over extractions normally is no more uncomfortable than the extractions alone. Discomfort is managed with proper anesthesia and pain medication. Immediate dentures act like a Band Aid bandage, holding tissues together and protecting them during healing.
The dentist will provide you with temporary immediate dentures as the gum tissue heals. Once the tissues are fully healed, the time is right to add dentures to your mouth. In general, it usually takes between six and eight weeks following the tooth extraction for dentures to be placed.
According to the 2020 national dental fee survey, a full upper and lower conventional denture (item 719) in Australia can cost up to $4,000. For either an upper or lower denture (not both) the cost can be up to $2,200.
Pain After Tooth Extraction
If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then 1–2 tablets of regular Tylenol® should be taken every 4 hours.
Many Patients Return to Work in a Couple of Days
That said, the nature of your work makes a difference. If your job involves strenuous activity, your oral surgeon may recommend that you take more time off. Performing a highly physical job too soon after wisdom tooth extraction can lead to painful complications.