The goal of dentistry is to help patients enjoy healthy, attractive smiles that last a lifetime. If possible, we want to help you preserve your natural teeth with cosmetic and restorative care. However, sometimes maintaining a healthy smile means removing your tooth. When do you recommend an extraction? How is the procedure done? Can we discuss tooth replacement options?
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Extractions
Question: Will you take steps to make the procedure comfortable?
Answer: Absolutely! First, we will employ a local anesthetic to ensure the patient remains comfortable. We understand that many patients will have anxiety about this procedure. To help them remain calm, we can also discuss dental sedation options.
Question: Do you always remove wisdom teeth?
Answer: In most cases, yes, we remove the third molars, preferably before they erupt. Otherwise, they can become impacted, as our smiles often do not have room to accommodate up to four additional molars. As a result, they can only partially erupt, known as impaction, leading to infection, misalignment, and damaged teeth.
Question: What if my tooth is infected or damaged?
Answer: Often, we can address a dental infection with a simple root canal procedure. However, should the infection reach a serious stage and threaten to spread to surrounding teeth, we may instead remove the tooth. In addition, if a tooth is severely damaged, to the point a crown may not be enough to repair it, we may consider an extraction.
Question: Can my extracted tooth be replaced?
Answer: Your wisdom teeth will not require replacement. However, if we remove a tooth due to infection or injury, we can discuss replacement options. We can offer a bridge, partial denture, or a dental implant to restore your missing tooth.
To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at (847) 230-9703.