Sometimes, a tooth is too decayed or injured for traditional treatment, or you have wisdom teeth poised to erupt. In these situations, safeguarding your smile from cavities, misalignment, and other complications means removing the tooth in question. In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist, talks about the tooth extraction procedure.
When Does A Tooth Need to Be Removed?
When do we prescribe this for our patients? We may recommend the procedure if a tooth is too decayed, infected, or damaged to be repaired with a dental crown. Taking it out helps prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the smile. We could also take out teeth loosened by gum disease, or to make room for orthodontic treatment. The most common reason for extraction is to prevent wisdom tooth impaction. As we approach our late teens and early 20s, up to four new teeth can erupt, which could lead to misalignment, infection, damaged teeth, and impaction, or a partial eruption. If you’re missing most of your teeth, then removing the last few could prepare your smile for a set of full dentures.
What Happens During the Extraction?
First, we will take detailed digital x-rays and intraoral camera images so we can plan the procedure with precision and accuracy. We then administer a local anesthetic and possibly sedation to ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable. Next, we open the gums above the teeth so we can reach and remove them with a pair of forceps. The extraction site is then sutured closed. At this point, a friend or family member will take you home, as you need time for the sedation to wear off.
How Does My Smile Recover?
Recovery takes as little as one to two days. When you come home, be sure you rest to help facilitate a successful healing period. Eat only soft foods, avoid straw use, and don’t prod the extraction site with your tongue. We will remove sutures in a follow-up visit. If we remove wisdom teeth, we don’t need to replace them. But if you lost a tooth to injury or poor oral health, we could discuss a variety of dental prosthetics to restore your smile to optimal health, function, and beauty.
If you have any questions about how we replace missing teeth or extract them gently and comfortably, then contact our team today.
Ready for a Tooth Extraction?
Using advanced technology and experience, we can provide safe and comfortable tooth removal and replacement. To learn more about how we approach oral surgery and restorative care, then please schedule a consultation today by contacting Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX at (972)-530-0552. You can also find our practice at 6850 N Shiloh Rd, Suite C Garland, TX 75044.
