What is tooth extraction?
A tooth extraction is a procedure where a tooth is removed. This could be any tooth - an upper tooth, a lower tooth, a front tooth, or a back tooth. Whenever the tooth has to come out, that process is called a tooth extraction.
Why might a tooth extraction be necessary?
A tooth extraction may be necessary for various reasons. These can include a large cavity that cannot be fixed, a broken or split tooth that cannot be repaired, or significant bone loss around the tooth causing it to become loose. If no other options are available, the tooth will be removed.
If I have gum disease, when would tooth extraction become necessary?
It may also be necessary if gum disease has progressed to the point where the teeth are getting loose. With gum disease, not only are the gums affecting, but the bone underneath is also affected. It’s inflamed and unhappy, and the bone that’s holding your teeth in your head is running away. If you lose enough bone, the teeth can get loose and wiggly, and they shouldn’t be. They should be firm, but if there’s enough progression of gum disease, if the periodontal disease is that bad, there’s not much else to do but take the teeth out.
How long does a tooth extraction procedure take?
The length of the procedure depends on why the tooth is being taken out and which tooth it is. If the tooth is very loose because there's not a lot of bone holding it in your head, the extraction itself could take just a few seconds. If the tooth is very broken, it may be a little more involved to take the tooth out. It could be anywhere from just a few seconds to upwards of an hour, hour and a half.
Will I need dental implants after a tooth extraction?
After tooth extraction, you'll have a gap where that tooth once was. Most often we try to replace that space with an implant. When we take a tooth out, knowing that an implant is going to go there in the future, we put bone in, called a bone graft. This takes about four months to heal. After that heals, we put your implant in and let that heal, also about four months. Then you get your tooth on there at the end of the day.
What should I know about tooth extraction aftercare and recovery?
There are four key cardinal rules: no smoking, no spitting, no rinsing, and no drinking through straws. All these rules aim to keep the blood clot that forms in the extraction area in place for proper healing. If you don't follow these rules and dislodge the clot, you could get a painful dry socket.
How can I schedule an appointment for a dental tooth extraction?
You can schedule your appointment for a dental tooth extraction by giving our office a call at (440) 659-1455.