Tooth Extraction

Dental Services : Oral Surgery : Tooth Extraction

Having your natural tooth is always preferred. Your general and preventive dentist is there to help check and keep your teeth clean and healhty. If teeth is not properly taken care for, toothaches, infection and pain can occur that can eventually lead to tooth extraction.

For simple tooth extraction, treatment may be done by your general dentist. If your tooth is embedded within the gums or impacted, then surgical tooth extraction may be required that will be referred to an oral surgeon. Your dentist will always take an x-ray to determine its tooth positioning and if tooth root is near the nerve endings.

Teeth Extractions

Adults and children may require tooth extraction for many reasons. If your teeth are overcrowded or you have tooth concerns, consult with our dentists today.

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Benefits of Tooth Extraction

When is tooth extraction required?

There are a number of reasons why a tooth extraction is needed:

The tooth is severely decayed
There is advanced periodontal disease (“gum disease”)
Tooth may be broken such that it cannot be repaired
Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted wisdom teeth)

Preparation for orthodontic treatment (“braces”) from overcrowding requires certain teeth to be removed to make space for teeth alignment.
Primary teeth or baby teeth needs to removed to make room growth of permanent adult teeth.

Procedure for Tooth Extraction

First evaluation and diagnosis
- An oral examination to determine if a tooth extraction is really warranted
- X-ray(s) may be taken of the tooth to evaluate both the internal aspects of the tooth, the tooth root and bone
- Relevant medical history are recorded. Do ensure that you report to your dentist any problems with any previous tooth extractions, bleeding problems, medical conditions or allergies to medicationsand supplements
Site tooth preparation
- Local anesthetize is given to “numb up” the tooth, jawbone and surrounding gums
Tooth removal
Instructions on post care directions given

Step 1

X-ray

Check tooth prognoses

Step 2

Site Preparation

Local anaesthesia

Step 3

Tooth Removal

Tooth is removed

Recovery Expectations

For simple normal tooth extraction, the patient is simply sent home and the tooth site left to heal. Bleeding should stop after the first few hours. You may follow your regular daily activities, avoiding excessive exertion typed of activities such as exercising or sunbathing.

Postcare Instructions after Tooth Extractions

Bite the gauze firmly for a full half hour to stop bleeding. If bleeding persists, change to new gauze and continue biting firmly until the bleeding stops
Do not use mouthwash for six hours after oral surgery
If mild bleeding occurs, hold cold salt water in the mouth until it warms to body temperature
Do not rinse for 12 hours
After 12 hours you may rinse with a solution of teaspoonful of salt in a glass of warm water
Brush your teeth as usual, but do not brush the wound
Take only soft, non-spicy and cold foods, if possible, for 2- 3 days
Avoid smoking and alcohol
Mild pain can be controlled with pain relieve medications as directed by your dentist

Effects of Missing Teeth

When a tooth is missing its neighboring teeth will tend to shift, sometimes significantly, which in turn can have a major impact on your dental health. Even the removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and the problem of a possibility that the surrounding teeth of predispose the teeth may shifted.

To avoid these complications, in most cases, your dentist will probably recommend to you to replace the tooth that has been extracted. Restorations for missing teeth includes dental implants, bridges and dentures.