Extractions

Extractions involve removing one or more teeth. Dentists at Solomon Family Dentistry can often save even badly damaged teeth using crowns and root canals, but sometimes, teeth extractions are unavoidable. They’re sometimes necessary if you have:

• Broken teeth
• Non-restorable teeth
• Infected teeth
• Severe gum disease
• Serious tooth decay
• Overcrowded teeth
• Impacted teeth

You might also require extractions if you have some teeth that need removing to fit a complete denture.

Many of the problems that lead to tooth extractions are preventable with a good oral hygiene routine. Issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and infections are nearly always due to poor tooth care, like not brushing or flossing every day or not visiting Solomon Family Dentistry for regular checkups.

Other extractions aren’t preventable. If you have extra teeth or your jaw is too small for your teeth, they can become overcrowded, crossing over each other and making tooth decay more likely.

Wisdom teeth, which are the molars at the very back of your mouth, can also require unavoidable extraction. Wisdom teeth typically don’t come through until you’re an adult, and often there isn’t enough room in your jaw for them to erupt properly, so they get impacted.

Impacted wisdom teeth can be very painful and increase your risk of tooth decay, infections, root damage, and cysts. Because you don’t need wisdom teeth, and no one can see that far into your mouth when you smile, they don’t need replacing after extraction.

Your extraction takes place under an anesthetic. The type of anesthetic you have varies according to the kind of extraction and your preferences, but options include:

• Local anesthetic
• Intravenous (IV) sedation
• Nitrous oxide gas
• General anesthetic

Some extractions are relatively simple; for example, if the tooth is already loose, it might just need to be eased out carefully. On the other hand, impacted wisdom teeth can be more of a challenge to extract and may involve more invasive techniques.

Solomon Family Dentistry performs most extractions, but if your case is particularly complex, your dentist can refer you to an appropriate specialist.

After your extraction, it’s best to make plans for replacing the missing tooth because an empty socket isn’t good for your jaw or other teeth. Options include bridges, dental implants, or dentures.

To find out more about extractions or discuss your problem teeth, call Solomon Family Dentistry and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.