Tooth Extractions – Raleigh, NC
Protecting Your Smile and Providing Relief
Most people don’t want to hear that they need a tooth extraction. This is understandable, however, we don’t recommend this treatment lightly! Tooth extractions are a last resort option for troubled teeth that can’t be salvaged. Usually an oral condition like cavities or wisdom tooth impaction will cause trouble for your smile when left untreated, and also tend to be quite uncomfortable. A tooth extraction can offer relief in drastic situations, as well as protect the rest of your teeth.
Why Choose Lake Boone Dentistry of Raleigh For Tooth Extractions?
- Compassionate And Caring Team
- Focused On Helping You Feel Comfortable
- Natural-Looking Tooth Replacement Options
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
We already mentioned two possible reasons why you might need a tooth extraction, but there are other situations where this treatment could be the best solution for your smile. Here are some more specific examples:
- Infection or decay. In severe cases, infection or decay could spread to nearby teeth, making the situation worse.
- Weak structure. We’ll do our best to restore any dental damage, but sometimes a tooth is too weak to support a crown, filling, or bridge.
- Dental crowding. This is when there’s not enough space in your mouth for the number of teeth you have; an extraction will create more room and ease the strain on your pearly whites and gums.
- Wisdom tooth complications. Wisdom teeth can sometimes contribute to dental crowding, become trapped below the gumline, or grow in at hazardous angles – it’s often best to remove them in these situations.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
There are two types of extractions we can perform, depending on your needs. This means the first thing we’ll have to do is thoroughly examine your mouth and take X-rays to fully understand the situation. Based on our findings, we’ll either recommend a simple extraction or surgical extraction.
- Simple extractions are for teeth that have fully erupted. We’ll administer the appropriate anesthetic, then gently wiggle the tooth loose until it comes out.
- Surgical extractions are for teeth that are trapped below the gumline. After administering an anesthetic, we’ll have to make a small incision to reach the tooth, and may have to section it into pieces for safe removal.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
To help ensure your recovery goes smoothly, there are a few aftercare guidelines you should follow. We’ll be sure to review these instructions as part of your treatment, but if you’d like to get an idea of what tooth extraction recovery will look like, here’s what you can expect:
- Avoid actions that could dislodge the treatment site blood clot, such as smoking, drinking through a straw, spitting, brushing the area, or strenuous activity.
- Stick to a soft food diet that consists of meals such as soup, scrambled eggs, or yogurt.
- Keep your head elevated while you sleep or lie down.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
Whatever rumors or gossip may tell you, the truth is that tooth extraction doesn’t hurt. This treatment is smooth and painless for the patients who undergo it.
You see, your dentist will numb your mouth before the removal. That means your treatment site won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure; the most you’ll sense is slight pressure. Given this fact, the extraction itself should be pretty easy for you.
You’ll only start to feel some soreness when the extraction is over. (The numbing agent will eventually wear off, after all.) Such discomfort is minor and short-lived, so you can manage until it fades. However, please let us know if your pain worsens or includes signs of infection.
What Risks Are Involved with Tooth Extractions?
Modern tooth extractions are quite safe, with complications being rare and (when present) treatable. Still, they do carry some risks you should know about beforehand.
One possible risk to watch for is an oral infection. Once a dentist removes your tooth, there’s a chance bacteria will reach and infect the now-empty socket. Those microbes could then spread through your body and cause health issues if left unchecked.
Another risk to consider is a dry socket, which is when a socket’s forming blood clot is dislodged. This condition could greatly delay your recovery and cause a lot of unneeded pain. As such, you should avoid it by following your dentist’s extensive aftercare instructions.
What Can I Do to Speed Up the Healing Time?
An extraction site can’t heal immediately; it needs at least a week or two to do so. With that said, you can take steps to ensure your recovery doesn’t have delays. These include:
- Get Proper Rest – Resting is crucial to the healing process. So, please don’t do anything strenuous for the first 24 hours after treatment.
- Keep Gauze in Place – You should also keep your gauze in place, as instructed by your dentist. This measure helps your blood clot form.
- Avoid Irritants – To keep your treatment site safe, avoid mouthwash and acidic foods during recovery.
- Prevent Dry Socket – Please stay hydrated and avoid straws to prevent a dry socket.
What are My Options for Replacing a Missing Tooth?
The first type is a dental bridge, which uses adjacent teeth to anchor several replacements. It’s often made of dental crowns fused to either side of one or more “pontics” (i.e., artificial teeth). As such, the device is ideal for patients missing one tooth or several adjacent ones.
Type two is a denture – a device made of a gum-colored base and many artificial teeth. Given its nature, it suits patients with several teeth removed or needing to replace an entire arch. Both partial and full dentures can seamlessly rebuild the smiles of such people.
Dental implants represent the third and most effective type. As the superior tooth replacements, these posts are durable, customized, and the only solution that preserves your jawbone.