Tooth Extraction
 Losing a tooth is never fun. We don’t like to tell you that your tooth needs to remove any more than you like to hear it, but unfortunately for some of our patients, sometimes a tooth is damaged beyond repair and requires extraction. Whether you have advanced periodontal disease, tooth decay, or even crowded teeth, having your tooth extracted here with us at Ranches Family Dental is a routine, straightforward procedure with very little associated risk. When the condition of your tooth is so deteriorated that we can’t save your tooth, we’ll take the utmost care in ensuring your comfort and minimizing your anxiety during a dental extraction.
Getting a Dental Extraction at Our Office
The days of wriggling a tooth out on your own at home and proudly showing it to your parents before tucking it under your pillow for a visit from the tooth fairy are behind you now. If we’ve advised that your tooth requires extraction, it’s entirely understandable that you’d be a little bit nervous about what to expect when it happens.
First and foremost: having your tooth extracted at our office does not hurt. When we extract your tooth, we’ll use strong anesthetic and, if you require it, we could even sedate you using nitrous oxide. While there may be discomfort in the days following the procedure, you should not expect to feel pain during the procedure. What you may notice, however, is a sensation of pressure and an awareness of our tools in your mouth as we work. This is different from pain, but we like to inform our patients of what to expect, so they’re not startled by any new sensations in their mouth while we remove the tooth.
Reasons you may need your tooth extracted include:
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Crowded teeth
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Severe tooth decay
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Advanced periodontal disease
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Abscess or infection of a root canal
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Wisdom tooth removal |
After taking x-rays of the affected area, we’ll proceed with numbing the site. Depending on the complexity of the extraction, we may perform one of two procedures to remove your tooth. These include:
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Simple Extraction. When we have clear access to the tooth, we will first use a tool called an elevator to loosen the tooth. Once the periodontal ligament has been severed, we will grasp the tooth with our forceps and slowly and carefully pull the tooth from your mouth.
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Surgical Extraction. If your tooth is impacted or broken at the gumline, we may have to perform a surgical extraction on it. This requires making a precise incision at the site to help facilitate removal of the tooth. We occasionally may have to remove the tooth in segments, but we work to ensure that you do not feel pain during this procedure. Once the tooth is removed, we’ll close the wound with sutures to better help it heal. |
Taking good care of the extraction site after the procedure is vital to promote healing and reduce your risk of infection or a painful condition called “dry socket,” which occurs when a clot fails to form over the site. To prevent this from happening, avoid using drinking straws and stop all tobacco products. We’ll pack the wound with gauze; avoid disturbing the gauze to also prevent dry socket. If you develop this condition, notify us immediately.
If you notice any complications (such as high fever, excessive bleeding, extreme pain or pain that worsens, or vomiting and nausea) seek immediate medical intervention with either us or at your local emergency room.
A dental extraction isn’t something to lose sleep over; we’re here to make sure you’re comfortable before, during, and after this routine procedure. If you have any questions about dental extractions or you suspect that you may require one, please give us a call here at Ranches Family Dental at (385) 374-0500 for more information or to schedule an appointment. |
