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When it comes to your oral health, we want to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy so that you can preserve your natural teeth as long as possible. Although you do everything you can to keep up your smile, sometimes a tooth ends up needing to be extracted.

If you are facing a tooth extraction – whether for an incisor, molar, or bicuspid – you can be assured that today’s extractions are much more simple and easily done than in the past. Thanks to advances in modern dental techniques and technology, you can have this procedure done with confidence. Today’s state-of-the-art procedures, local anesthesia, and our team will help you feel as comfortable as possible.

Why Teeth Are Extracted

– Cosmetic flaws

– Bite problems

– Impacted teeth

– Overcrowding of teeth

– Severe fracture inside a tooth

– A root canal can’t save the tooth

– Extensive tooth decay or gum infection

– Insufficient space for orthodontic treatment

– Severe gum disease resulting in loose teeth

– Extra teeth blocking other teeth from erupting

– Insufficient room to place a dental bridge or denture

Simple or Surgical Extraction?

A simple extraction is done on teeth that you can see in your mouth and are either severely decayed or have sustained an injury. In this case, a local anesthetic is often used. The tooth can then be loosened using special tools so that it can more easily come out and any infected tissue can be cleared out.

A surgical extraction is done on teeth that have broken around the gum line or haven’t yet erupted through the gums. Wisdom teeth fall under this category. This type of extraction is generally done under local or general anesthesia to ensure comfort. An incision will be made in the gums to allow access to the tooth, and then it will be removed along with any bone debris or decayed material and the site cleaned. The wound may then be closed with sutures to promote healing.

What Happens After

Following a tooth extraction, you will be given information on how to facilitate your recuperation. By following the pre-and post-extraction instructions which our periodontist provides, it will help you heal faster and more comfortably while avoiding complications.

Since tooth decay and gum disease can lead to other severe health issues, dental and periodontal care is crucial to having good overall health. Even so, tooth extractions are typically done as a last resort because saving your natural tooth is our top priority.

After a tooth has been extracted, there is a gap left behind that will likely want to close this gap with the help of a tooth replacement such as a dental implant. An implant can maintain your oral and bone health, restore facial aesthetics, and serve as anchors for a crown, bridge or dentures.

If you would like to know more about having a tooth extracted, we welcome you to contact our periodontal team today and schedule your consultation. We look forward to helping you restore your smile!