TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Get rid of decayed or broken teeth!

Retention of teeth is the most acceptable choice, whenever possible. Modern restorative dentistry can save teeth remarkably well, however, there are occasions where the teeth are decayed or broken down beyond repair and an extraction is the treatment of choice.

Reasons where teeth need to be removed include:

  • Non-restorable tooth decay
  • Excessive tooth wear
  • Bone and gum disease
  • Impacted wisdom teeth
  • Orthodontic correction of teeth crowding

Some consider a tooth extraction to be a solution to relieving dental pain. However, the extraction of teeth can be the beginning of another set of dental problems. Once an extraction is done, the jaw shrinks about 1/64th of an inch each year. In some areas, this bone shrinkage does not pose a problem but in some areas of the mouth, it can present a significant problem with restoring function or appearance. This loss of bone can be reduced or prevented using bone grafting.

Simple Extractions vs. Surgical Extractions

The surgical extraction of teeth is actually the most common surgical procedure provided in the United States. When a tooth is visible above the gum line and your dentist can easily remove it with forceps, the procedure is called a simple extraction. If a more volatile tooth has yet to grow in, however, your dentist needs to remove gum tissue or bone in order to extract it. This is called a surgical extraction, and requires stitches to close the site so that it can heal properly. The doctor may also prescribe a more specific pain medication following the procedure.

Reasons for Surgical Extractions

By taking an x-ray and examining your tooth, your dentist can usually determine whether or not your extraction will be simple or surgical. But there are times when a simple extraction turns into a surgical. If a tooth breaks off during the procedure, for instance, it may need to be taken out in pieces.

Wisdom teeth often face surgical extraction because they’re usually impacted, meaning they are not completely erupted into the mouth. This condition requires cutting through bone and tissue. Removing severely broken down teeth, root tips or teeth with long-curved roots are other examples of surgical extractions. Then there are times when the bone around a tooth has become dense, resulting in the need for surgical treatment.

Careful tooth removal does not cause any health challenge. Most extractions are performed under local anesthetic. The more difficult procedures may require sedation. If infection is present, an antibiotic is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection. Sutures may be placed to hold the tissues in place while they heal. Some sutures resorb overtime while some sutures require a return visit for removal. Depending on the nature of extraction, a prescription may be given to help reduce discomfort. Soon after the extraction, a cold pack placed over the site of extraction may help reduce swelling. If a tooth or teeth have been removed where the function or aesthetics is impaired, there are several options for restoration. Among the restorative choices are dental implants with crowns on them, fixed bridges, removable partial dentures or complete dentures. The risks of tooth removal are relatively minor and the costs moderate . The dental, surgical, and restorative techniques of today are highly advanced and can provide comfortable and predictable outcomes for both the tooth removal and their subsequent replacement.