When you have a tooth that cannot be restored with a crown, then a tooth extraction could be necessary to avoid major complications. Our team takes time to ensure your tooth removal is a comfortable and positive experience. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about our approach to tooth extraction.
The Reasons We Need to Extract a Tooth
When do we recommend taking a tooth out completely? This could be the right choice if the tooth is too damaged or decayed to be treated with a filling or crown, or if an infection is beyond treatment with a root canal procedure. We could take out a tooth loosened by gum disease, or to make room for orthodontic treatment. If you have lost several teeth, extraction could be necessary to make room for a dental prosthetic. For teens and people in their early 20s, we could recommend tooth extraction to remove wisdom teeth before they erupt and cause major problems for the health, function, and appearance of the smile.
Planning The Tooth’s Removal
As with any oral surgery, we will plan the procedure in detail. Our team will start with digital x-rays to assess the position of the tooth and ensure we avoid contact with blood vessels, nerve tissues, and sinus cavities. We also take time to administer a local anesthetic to the area so that you remain comfortable. In addition, our team can discuss sedation for people with anxiety or special needs that makes undergoing extensive treatments like tooth extraction a difficult process. We will choose from nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV sedation, selecting one based on your age, weight, medical history, and anxiety levels. You will likely have no memory of the procedure and remain calm and comfortable, even if you have a phobia of the dentist.
The Recovery Process
Once we have planned the procedure and taken steps to ensure your comfort, we will use forceps to gently extract the tooth in question. In some cases, this could take as little as a half hour. We then suture the area closed, and will remove these in a follow-up visit. Since sedation takes time to wear off, be sure you have a friend or family member ready to take you home. We will provide detailed aftercare instructions and any necessary prescriptions to aid in the healing process. For the first day or two, be sure you rest, avoid straw use, eat soft foods, and be very gentle when you brush and floss. If you have any questions about how we approach a tooth extraction, or if you think you may need one, then reach out to our team right away. You can also see us and use your 2024 dental benefits before they expire!
Schedule a Visit to Extract a Tooth
We want to help you enjoy good oral health, and sometimes that means we need to remove a tooth. For more information on how and why we may remove a tooth, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
