Extractions
Occasionally teeth may need to be removed. This can range from a number of reasons:
- Severe decay; where the tooth cannot be restored
- Severe infection
- Loss of periodontal support
- Fracture of teeth
- For orthodontic reasons
- Removal of unneeded 3rd Molar (Wisdom Teeth)
Tooth Extraction
We understand that removing teeth is not a pleasant thought. But we will make sure you are completely numb before proceeding so there will be no pain during the procedure. We will also prescribe medicine to manage the pain after.
Procedure for Standard Extraction
After the application of anesthesia, special tools are inserted between the tooth and gums surrounding the tooth. The tooth is moved back and forth until it comes out. Sometimes a tooth is cut into small pieces (sectioned) before it is removed. As mentioned before, while this may sound “painful,” we will make sure you are completely numb before proceeding. You won’t experience any pain since you are numb. You will just feel the pressure of pushing to remove the tooth.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, are the last set of permanent teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth and are usually not needed. Wisdom teeth can disrupt your dental health when:
- They erupt through your gum, but your jaw is too small to hold them. As a result, they force other teeth out of alignment and can disrupt your bite.
- They create a pocket between your teeth, allowing bacteria to get inside. This will lead to an infection and damage the teeth next to them.
- They do not erupt through your gum and are not in a normal position. As a result, they crowd the roots of other teeth, force them out of alignment, and can produce pain
When your jaw is too small to accommodate normal wisdom teeth, it is common for pain and swelling to occur because you cannot properly clean the area. In addition, there is a greater risk of developing gum (periodontal) disease. In most instances, extracting wisdom teeth is the best course of action.
If a wisdom tooth has fully erupted through the gums, a standard tooth extraction is performed. If the tooth has not erupted through the gums, a more complicated extraction procedure is used.
Care After Extractions
Your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow. In most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal.
Here are some tips to follow to make recovery easier:
- Avoid anything that might prevent normal healing.
- Don’t smoke or rinse your mouth vigorously.
- Avoid drinking through a straw for 24 hours.
- Follow the diet your dentist suggests.
Cost
The cost will vary depending on the how difficult the extraction is and how experienced the dentist is. An extraction specialist specializes in extracting teeth and will be more experienced than a general dentist.