Gentle Tooth Extractions in Plano, TX

Top Three Reasons You May Need a Tooth Extraction

Teeth may need to be extracted for a variety of reasons, and—though the main goal of dentistry is to ensure that your adult teeth are healthy and last you a lifetime—there are instances where it is in your best interest to have a tooth pulled. If tooth removal is necessary for your oral health, it may be for one of the following reasons:

Infection or Trauma

If your tooth was damaged due to neglect, an accident, or sports injury, normal methods of repair are sometimes not enough, so it may be best to remove the tooth and replace it with a restoration. Additionally, if damage from trauma impacts the pulp, it could lead to infection. When infection is present, a tooth extraction may be doubly necessary.

Crowded Mouth

A tooth may need to be removed if it is causing crowding in the mouth which can prevent proper alignment. Further, if it cannot come up through the gums—as is often the case with wisdom teeth—it may be recommended to have that tooth pulled.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Periodontal disease—an infection of the tissue and bone that support the teeth—may cause your teeth to become loose. In this instance, it may be recommended that you have the affected teeth extracted.

The Extraction Process

Before your tooth extraction, the doctor will thoroughly numb the teeth, jawbone, and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic to ensure your experience is comfortable and stress-free. During the extraction, the only think patients sometimes report feeling is some slight pressure. If the tooth doesn’t require sectioning (the process in which the doctor sections the tooth into individual pieces that he removes one section one at a time), the procedure will be over shortly. However, if sectioning is required, it may take some additional time. This is a very common part of the procedure and is performed when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it, so don’t feel concerned if this must be done.

After a Tooth Extraction

Generally speaking, recovery only lasts a couple of days, and any discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. The only postoperative restrictions are related to keeping the blood clot in place in order to avoid dry socket. Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a dental condition that occurs when the blood clot at the site of the tooth extraction fails to develop or is dislodged or dissolves before the site has healed, exposing sensitive nerves. You’ll want to take it easy for the rest of the day after your appointment (our doctors often prescribe binge-watching Netflix), and you’ll definitely want to avoid smoking, brushing, and sucking anything through a straw. You’ll also want to stick to soft foods, such as ice cream, yogurt, and soups. After your procedure, we’ll be sure to give you a list of do’s and don’ts before you leave the office to reference during your recovery.