Tooth decay is the most common reason for tooth removal.
To begin, your dentist will clean and disinfect the treatment site in preparation for the extraction procedure.
We may recommend, or you may request, sedation for your tooth extraction. Sedation is helpful for anxious patients and can make you more comfortable during longer extraction procedures.
Your dentist will gently loosen the tooth in the socket using special dental tools. When it has been loosened sufficiently, they will pull it out with a pair of dental forceps.
When the tooth has been removed, your dentist will clean and disinfect the area again, and suture the extraction site to ensure it heals properly.
You’ll be sent home to heal and recover, and your dentist will provide you with a comprehensive set of instructions that will ensure your mouth heals as quickly as possible.
Basic extractions are typically used for teeth that have been damaged by oral injuries, gum disease, or tooth decay. We will always try to save your tooth first, but sometimes extraction may be necessary.
For example, if a tooth is severely infected, it may not be possible to save it with a root canal. Instead, your dentist may recommend an extraction. Restorative treatment, like a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture, can be used to replace your missing tooth.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars, and are a natural part of our mouths. However, they grow in much later than the rest of our teeth, usually between the ages of 17-25. Because of this, many people do not have enough space in their mouths for wisdom teeth, particularly if they have had orthodontic work.
That means that the wisdom teeth can cause issues with your other teeth when they begin to erupt. They may cause your other teeth to shift and become misaligned, or they may become impacted and get infected. Wisdom teeth tend to cause discomfort, which is why most people choose to have them extracted when they begin to emerge.
Impacted wisdom teeth are one of the most common complications related to wisdom tooth eruption. When your wisdom tooth is “impacted,” this means that it has not fully erupted from your gums.
Impacted wisdom teeth can also affect the position and health of the adjacent teeth, particularly if they’re growing in crooked. In addition, these partially erupted teeth can catch food debris and bacteria, leading to a higher risk of a tooth abscess or infection.
Because they have not fully erupted, most impacted wisdom teeth must be removed surgically. In a surgical extraction, your dentist will numb and clean the extraction site, then make a very small incision in the gum tissue near the impacted tooth. The impacted tooth is removed through the incision in the gum tissue. Once the entire tooth structure has been completely extracted, your dentist will clean and sanitize the area and suture it shut.
An extraction may be necessary for orthodontic reasons like overcrowding.
The most common reason for tooth extractions is the improper growth of wisdom teeth. If your wisdom teeth are impacted or are otherwise not growing in properly, they may need to be removed to ensure that your other teeth remain healthy. However, not everyone needs their wisdom teeth to be removed, so it’s best to consult with your dentist to find out if your wisdom teeth are or will be a problem.
Tooth extractions may also be necessary if you have an extremely severe cavity, severe damage from oral trauma, or an infected tooth that cannot be saved with root canal therapy. In most cases, it is possible to save your tooth with a crown or root canal therapy, but sometimes extraction may be your only option.
Some patients with severe gum disease may require tooth extractions. In its most severe stages, periodontal disease causes teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Your doctor may want to extract these teeth to prepare you for a strong and long-lasting tooth replacement option. Extractions are required to prepare patients for these treatments, including the placement of dental implants or dentures.
You won’t feel any pain or discomfort during or immediately after your extraction due to the numbing and sedation used during the procedure. However, you will start to experience symptoms including pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, and bleeding within a few hours following your extraction. These symptoms usually peak within the first 2-3 days, and then start to fade as you heal. You will typically need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for about 5-7 days after your treatment, so plan accordingly.
Overall, it will take about 1-2 weeks for your extraction site to heal completely. Following the recovery instructions provided to you by your dentist will enhance your healing progress. If you are still feeling a lot of pain and discomfort 1-2 weeks after your extraction, this is not normal. Contact your dentist for a follow-up appointment.
Usually. Tooth extractions that are required to remove impacted wisdom teeth, or damaged or decayed teeth, are typically covered by insurance. However, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider and work with them to fully understand your coverage and benefits.
Most patients can return to work or school within 2-3 days days following an extraction.
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