Tooth Extractions

If your dentist sent you to our office to have a tooth removed, it could be for one of many reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Our office offers IV sedation for these extractions and it is something to seriously consider if your have any dental anxiety. The comfort of sedation is a wonderful tool to ease your dental anxiety.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, in most cases, Drs. Lucas or Jack will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth.

The Tooth Extraction Process

Drs. Jack and Luke have many years of training and experience to properly remove teeth in all situations, as well as treat complications that can arise from any health concerns that can attribute to your overall healing. It is important talk with your dentist about having your teeth removed by a specialist like WYOMS if you are taking any blood thinners, or if you are being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates such as Fosomax, Alendronate, Boniva or Prolia: or if you are being treated for a bone disease or bone cancer. These health concerns will change the tooth extraction process that best fits your needs for proper healing.

At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.

During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.

You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.

If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.

Sectioning a Tooth

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

After Tooth Extraction

For details on home care after tooth extraction, see the page “After Extractions” under “Surgical Instructions”.