If your tooth is damaged or infected, our dentists will do everything they can to save it. However, sometimes tooth extraction is necessary in order to protect your oral health and save your smile.
Don’t delay in seeking emergency dental care if you’re experiencing pain in your tooth. The earlier you seek dental treatment, the more likely we can avoid serious complications.
Our dentists save tooth extraction as a last resort. However, when it is necessary, you’ll want dentists who know how to remove your tooth as painlessly as possible. At Family Dentistry, we have the skills and experience not only to remove teeth when necessary, but also to offer tooth restorations to repair your smile afterward.
Let’s take a look at some scenarios in which tooth extraction is necessary.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Your wisdom teeth are your third molars that usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25. Although you may be able to live comfortably with your wisdom teeth, many people unfortunately have to have their wisdom teeth removed.
You’ll need to get your wisdom teeth removed if they’re crooked or , which means they’re stuck underneath the gums or only partially erupted. This is because impacted wisdom teeth can cause an infection called pericoronitis. Crooked or impacted teeth can also undo years or orthodontic work.
Tooth Infection
In many cases, our dentists can save an infected tooth with root canal therapy. This procedure allows our dentists to remove the infected dental pulp and cap the damaged tooth with a dental crown to restore its strength.
However, if you don’t seek emergency dental care as soon as possible, even root canal therapy may not be effective enough to save your smile. Again, it’s important to see our dentists as soon as you start experiencing persistent tooth pain. That way, we have a wide variety of options to save your smile and can hopefully avoid tooth extraction.
How Tooth Extraction Works
may sound scary, but it’s a safe, simple dental procedure.
First, we will examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays to make sure there is no other way we can protect your smile instead of extracting teeth. Once we’ve confirmed that tooth extraction is your only option, we will begin to prep you for the procedure.
Next, our dentists will numb your damaged tooth so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. Then, we’ll use a tool called an elevator to loosen the tooth from its socket. Finally, we’ll use forceps to gently remove the tooth.
Our dentists will ask you to bite down on a gauze pad to stop the bleeding, and we may use dissolving stitches to help you heal faster. After tooth extraction, you will need to rest for at least 24 hours and avoid eating solid foods or drinking with a straw.
Restorations After Removal
After your tooth has been removed, you may want a tooth restoration to replace it. Tooth restorations can help restore both the appearance and the function of your tooth. That way, you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.
If you’ve only had one tooth removed, ask our dentists about getting a dental bridge or dental implant. If you’ve had multiple teeth removed, you may want to consider partial or full dentures.
Save Your Smile
Our Wyoming, MI, emergency dentists only use tooth extraction as a last resort. To learn more, call Family Dentistry today at (616) 534-5602, or contact us online to request an appointment.