Tooth Extractions – Mesquite, TX
Keeping Your Smile Healthy & Flawlessly Functioning
Removing a tooth is never something the TrueCare Dentistry team does lightly. We want our patients to keep their healthy smiles for their whole lives if possible. Unfortunately, there are some situations where tooth removal will be your best option in order to preserve the health of surrounding teeth. When teeth are unable to erupt on their own, baby teeth don’t fall out naturally, your bite is crowded, or you simply experience decay or damage too severe for us to save the tooth, extraction may be your best option. If you want to learn more about tooth extractions or any other dental treatment options, call our dental office in Mesquite to schedule an appointment with our caring dentist and team. We look forward to partnering with you to maintain a healthy smile for life.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are, by far, the most often extracted. They take their common name from the fact that they emerge in the late teens or early twenties, which the Victorians referred to as the age of wisdom. Actually, these teeth are just a third set of molars. While our human ancestors needed these teeth to replace those lost due to poor diet and oral hygiene, most people simply don’t need this third set of molars any more. In many cases, these teeth are unable to erupt at all (impacted), cause crowding between teeth, and they can even push your smile out of alignment undoing orthodontic treatments. For these and other reasons, we may recommend removal.
Multiple Tooth Extractions
Wisdom teeth are, again, the most common example of this form of tooth extraction, but whatever the reason, we try to remove multiple teeth in one appointment whenever possible. This allows patients to deal with the extraction in one visit and go through the recovery and healing process just once. To maintain comfort during these potentially lengthy procedures, we may recommend using sedation dentistry.
Extraction Site Preservation
Following the removal of a tooth, we don’t want our patients to lose the bone and gum tissue that support the smile, but due to lack of stimulus from the tooth’s root, many people see diminished jawbone density and gum tissue volume. Socket preservation procedures help limit this tissue loss, maintaining the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure. This is especially important for those patients who plan to replace the extracted tooth using dental implants in the future.
Post-Operative Care
After your tooth has been extracted, you’ll need to take special care to ensure a full, safe recovery. Before your procedure, we’ll walk you through at-home care and provide you with your specific post-operative care routine. Some of the basics to keep in mind include:
- Take your prescription or over the counter pain relievers as directed to avoid unnecessary discomfort and control swelling and inflammation.
- Use an ice pack for the first 48 hours to relieve pain, prevent severe swelling, and slow blood flow. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes at a time and try to avoid completely numbing your face.
- Consume only liquids for the first two days after treatment but avoid using straws as suction can dislodge your blood clot and slow healing. When you feel comfortable, begin eating more difficult to chew foods.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
The idea of having a tooth extracted can be daunting, but sometimes it’s ultimately the best choice for your smile. However, we want to make sure that any concerns you have are put to rest before you begin the extraction process. Let us know right away if you have any questions related to tooth extraction. Here are some helpful answers to a few of the extraction questions that tend to be on a lot of people’s minds.
Is There an Alternative to a Tooth Extraction?
Sadly, if your dentist is recommending a tooth extraction in the first place, then the answer is probably no. It’s always preferable to save teeth with root canal therapy, dental crowns, scaling and root planing, and other procedures whenever possible. As such, if these options are still viable, we will always suggest them first.
However, in many cases, a tooth may simply be beyond salvaging, and removing it could be the only way to keep your entire mouth healthy. That said, there’s no need to panic if you’re told that you need an extraction; we’ll do everything in our power to help you stay as calm and comfortable as possible during your treatment.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After a Tooth Extraction?
The short answer is: yes, but it’s generally not a good idea. Having a complete smile is about more than appearances. Even a single missing tooth can affect the way you speak and make it harder to chew your food correctly. Also, the teeth next to the gap might start to shift, leading to a misaligned bite.
In short, replacing an extracted tooth is always the best choice. There are several options for filling in the gap left behind by a removed tooth, including dental bridges, partial dentures, and dental implants; we can go over these treatments in detail with you before your extraction is performed.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
A local anesthetic will be used to numb your mouth before the procedure begins. There should be little to no discomfort from the extraction itself. However, some soreness may occur once the treatment is complete. Please follow any aftercare instructions that we give you to ensure a smooth healing process. Contact our team right away if your post-extraction discomfort seems to be getting worse or if you’re seeing signs of a fever.
Can I Smoke After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Any kind of tobacco product – whether it’s a cigarette, a vaporizer, chewing tobacco, and so on – could affect your body’s ability to heal itself after tooth extraction. As such, if you’re having a tooth removed, you will be told to avoid tobacco products altogether for at least five days after the procedure. If you want to play it as safe as possible, we recommend staying away from tobacco for two weeks or more to minimize the risk of any complications during the recovery process.