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Get Help For Troublesome Teeth
Tooth Extractions
At SmileWell Dental, we always want to preserve your natural teeth and restore your smile whenever possible. In some cases, however, it may be better to extract a damaged or unhealthy tooth to prevent further complications, and to minimize any further pain or discomfort you may experience. That’s why we offer gentle tooth extractions with sedation options for all patients. Schedule a consultation to see if a gentle extraction is right for you by giving our team a call at (512) 677-7411 today.
Keep Your Smile Healthy
Why A Tooth Extraction?
Most commonly, tooth extractions are recommended for patients who are getting their wisdom teeth, but do not have enough space in their mouths for them to erupt properly. The wisdom teeth are the final set of 4 molars that erupt between the ages of 17-25, but most people do not have enough room in their mouths for these teeth. Because of this, they can fail to erupt completely and become “impacted,” or even erupt sideways and damage the surrounding teeth. Usually, extracting these teeth is the best option to protect your oral health.
Tooth extractions are also sometimes required to remove teeth that have been seriously damaged by gum disease, tooth decay, or an oral injury. We will always try to save your natural teeth, but teeth that are very damaged may not be salvageable, and could require extraction.
Tooth extractions may also be required before another dental treatment, such as the fitting of a set of dentures or dental implant surgery, or for a number of other orthodontic reasons.
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What To Expect
The Tooth Extraction Process
The process of a basic tooth extraction is very simple. First, Dr. Reddy will clean your mouth and numb the treatment area. For your comfort and peace of mind, you can also be sedated with laughing gas during your treatment.
Next, Dr. Reddy will use a special tool called a “dental elevator” to wiggle the tooth and loosen it in the socket. Once it’s been loosened, she will grab the tooth by the root using a pair of dental forceps and gently extract it. After this, the area will be cleaned and sanitized, then sutured shut to ensure it heals properly. This process will be repeated for each tooth that requires extraction.
Aftercare For A Tooth Extraction
What You Need To Know
Most importantly, you need to avoid using a straw or spitting forcefully for the first 2-3 days after your appointment, as this can dislodge the blood clot that allows your extraction site to heal. This “dry socket” can be very painful, and can delay the healing process as well.
You will need to take things easy for a few days after your appointment and avoid heavy exercise and exertion. You should not brush your extraction site directly for 3-4 days, but can rinse with salt water to clean it. Also, you will need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for at least a week to avoid damaging the extraction site.
It usually takes 1-2 weeks to heal fully from your extraction. Dr. Reddy will provide you with a comprehensive set of recovery instructions to avoid complications and ensure your mouth heals quickly.
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