We know that getting teeth extracted can sound intimidating. However, removing a tooth is sometimes necessary to protect your oral health. Tooth extraction is a common procedure, and our team is dedicated to ensuring you are comfortable throughout the process. We offer comfortable tooth extraction in our Dallas, TX, dental office as part of our general dentistry services.
Reasons To Get a Tooth Extraction
You may need a tooth removed for multiple reasons. While we always aim to save natural teeth whenever possible, certain situations make a tooth extraction in our Dallas, TX office the best choice for your long-term health. Here are some of the most common reasons:
Severe Tooth Decay
Bacteria can cause a severe infection when tooth decay reaches the center of the tooth. An extraction may be necessary when the infection is too advanced for a root canal to save the tooth. This helps prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth or areas of your mouth.
Gum Disease
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease can damage the tissues and bone that support your teeth. The teeth might start to get loose in their socket if gum disease gets really bad. Sometimes, pulling out a loose tooth is best to prevent more damage and infection from happening.
Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth are teeth that fail to fully emerge from the gum line. A lack of space in the mouth prevents them from growing correctly and cause pain, swelling, and infection. Wisdom teeth are the most common impacted teeth we see. Removing impacted teeth helps avoid future issues and keeps the rest of your teeth straight.
Overcrowding
Sometimes, teeth can be too crowded in your mouth. Overcrowded teeth can cause alignment problems and make it difficult to clean between them. In orthodontic cases, a dentist may recommend removing one or more teeth to create space for the remaining teeth to move into proper alignment.
Trauma or Injury
Sometimes a tooth can’t be saved if it’s severely damaged from an injury. The dentist might not be able to repair it with dental treatments such as a crown or bonding. Unfortunately, the dentist will have to remove it to prevent more pain, infections, and other issues.
Tooth Infection
Tooth infections are common, but severe ones can lead to a dead tooth. Sometimes you can’t fix an abscessed tooth or severe tooth infection with antibiotics or root canal therapy. Removing a severely infected tooth can stop the infection from spreading to the jawbone and other teeth.
Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom teeth typically emerge when patients are in their late teens or early twenties. These third molars need removal if they are impacted, partially erupted, or cause overcrowding. It’s time to remove your wisdom teeth if you have pain, swelling, and infection around them.
The Tooth Extraction Process in Dallas, TX
Tooth extraction is a straightforward procedure. Our dental team will keep you comfortable every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect during the extraction process:
- Exam and X-rays: Before the extraction, we’ll conduct a thorough exam of your mouth. We’ll take X-rays to see the tooth’s position and how it’s affecting the bone. This will help us figure out the best way to remove it and if there are any problems we need to watch out for. We will also discuss your medical history and any medications you are taking to ensure that the procedure is safe for you.
- Numbing the Area: On the day of your extraction, we’ll start by numbing the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. This ensures that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. For patients who feel anxious, we can offer sedation options such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral sedation to help you relax.
- Simple vs. Surgical Extraction: We’ll perform a simple extraction if the tooth is visible and easily accessible. This involves loosening the tooth using a tool called an elevator, and then gently pulling it out with forceps. If the tooth is impacted, broken, or not fully erupted, we may need to perform a surgical extraction. In this case, we will make a small incision in the gum to access the tooth and remove it. Sometimes, the tooth may need to be broken into smaller pieces to make the extraction easier.
- Removing the Tooth: Once the tooth is loosened, we will carefully remove it from its socket. You may feel some pressure during this part of the procedure, but you won’t feel any pain. We’ll clean the area to make sure there’s no debris or infection left after we take out the tooth.
- Closing the Site: If necessary, we’ll place a few stitches to close the extraction site and promote faster healing. These stitches will dissolve on their own over time. We’ll then place gauze over the extraction site to help stop any bleeding.
Healing After a Tooth Extraction
Follow these tips to help you heal properly after treatment:
- Rest: Take it easy for the rest of the day after your dental extraction. Avoid heavy physical activity or anything that could cause strain for the first 24 hours. It can increase the risk of bleeding and may interfere with the healing process.
- Manage Bleeding: Some bleeding after the procedure is normal. Bite down gently on the gauze provided by your dentist to help stop the bleeding. Change the gauze every few hours as needed.
- Reduce Swelling: Use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for 10-20 minutes at a time. This will help reduce swelling. It will also help treat your pain.
- Eat Soft Foods: Stick to soft foods like applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, or soup for the first few days. Avoid hot or spicy foods. Do not use straws because the sucking motion could disturb the healing site.
- Keep the Area Clean: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water after 24 hours. Be careful not to spit too forcefully. We will provide a pipette to help rinse the area.
Replacing Teeth After Extraction
After extracting teeth in your smile zone, consider replacing them. Replacing your tooth helps restore your smile, keeps your other teeth in place, and makes it easier to chew and speak. Here are some common ways to replace missing teeth:
Dental Implants
These are one of the most popular and long-lasting ways to replace a missing tooth. The dentist places a titanium post into your jawbone. After the implant heals and fuses with the bone, a crown is placed on top to blend in with your other teeth. Implants look and feel like natural teeth and can last for many years with proper care. To learn more about replacing teeth with implants, see Dental Implants.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge can replace a row of consecutive missing teeth. Traditional bridges use support from natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth gap. However, we can use implants to keep bridges stable too. To learn about our bridge options, see Dental Bridges.
Dentures
This restoration replaces rows and arches of lost teeth. You can get full dentures if you’re missing all your teeth or partial dentures to replace one or several teeth. Traditional dentures are removable but don’t last as long as implant-secured dentures. To learn about our modern dentures, see Dentures and Partials.
Request an Exam Today
Get a comfortable tooth extraction in our Dallas, TX, dental office. Call Henderson Family Dental at 214-253-4868. You can also schedule an appointment online anytime. We are your local tooth extraction experts.