What Is Dental Extraction?    

Dental extraction is also called tooth extraction or tooth removal, and it lets us remove a tooth or several teeth from the mouth. Dental extraction might need to be done for various reasons to make sure that you’re as healthy and happy as possible. Sometimes, a tooth can be damaged to the point that other procedures like fillings and crowns aren’t an option. Tooth damage at this level can happen because of several factors, including decay, injury to the tooth, gum disease, or teeth crowding (when there’s not enough space for the tooth that needs to be removed).

Although this might sound a bit nerve-wracking at first, it’s an incredibly common procedure! If your tooth is damaged to the point of needing removal, it’s important to get it out so you can feel less discomfort. The health of your teeth is also important for your overall health, so it’s important to make sure that you don’t have a tooth that’s causing you problems. Getting rid of damaged teeth can eliminate bacteria, as well, make you healthier, more comfortable, and more confident. We know it might be daunting to part with a tooth, but we promise that we’ll help make you feel informed and ready to start your journey toward your healthiest mouth.

Who Is a Candidate for Dental Extraction?       

Not everyone will be the right candidate for a dental extraction–sometimes, there are other options that might be a better fit for you. Don’t worry–we’ll examine your teeth and talk to you about your history, goals, and concerns to make sure that an extraction is ideal for you. We’ll often recommend an extraction for people with teeth that can’t be fixed using other methods like fillings, or people who continue to experience problems, like pain, even after they’ve gotten other treatments.

In some cases, we might need to extract teeth if gum disease has spread to prevent other issues. People with overcrowded teeth might also be good candidates for an extraction to make room and treat discomfort. Whatever the reason for an extraction might be, it’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve worked with patients of all backgrounds and experiences, and we’re never here to judge. Our passion is making you more confident and more comfortable with your teeth.

What to Expect During a Dental Extraction Procedure       

We’ll let you know how to prepare for an extraction beforehand, so don’t fear! You’ll have an opportunity to ask us any questions so you can walk in feeling confident. Before the procedure, we’ll need to take X-rays and talk to you about any medications you might be taking. This helps the procedure go as smoothly as possible.

In many cases, you’ll have the option to receive a sedative during the procedure. This might be a great option for you if you’re feeling highly nervous about the procedure or about any discomfort. Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” is a good option for patients who need a less intense level of sedation. We offer oral sedation, as well, which we would give you around an hour before we start the extraction. IV sedation is also an option for our patients who have certain needs or need to receive a more complicated or lengthy extraction. For oral sedation and IV sedation, make sure you have someone ready to drive you home and keep you comfortable.

Once you’ve been sedated (if you’ve chosen to use a sedative), we’ll go ahead and start the procedure. We’ll make sure that the area is properly numbed before we start the extraction process–we use a local anesthesia to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. We’ll then loosen the tooth delicately using specialized tools and lift it out of place. In some cases, we may need to make one or more very small cuts in your gum to make sure we can remove the entire tooth. We’ll clean the area afterward and, depending on your unique procedure, we might give you stitches.

Sedation

Dr. Eidson offers a wide variety of sedation techniques including local anesthesia (numbing injections), laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and IV sedation.  Most patients are candidates for sedation.  At your consultation appointment, we will review your medical history and medications to discuss the safest and most comfortable option for your specific needs.

Dental Extraction Aftercare

The hardest part is over! We’ll put some gauze in the area to help slow down any bleeding. This is an important part of the healing process. After a short period of time, when your blood has clotted, you can take out the gauze. You should plan to take it easy for the following couple of days. You might feel some discomfort for a few days, and most patients can handle this with over-the-counter pain medication. In some cases, though, we might prescribe you pain medication or antibiotics to make sure you’re healing smoothly and everything is in good shape as you recover. We’ll give you cleaning instructions so you can take care of yourself at home. Try to eat softer foods for the first few days after the procedure.

Schedule a Consultation    

Dental implants are an exciting product of medical advancements, and we’re proud to offer our patients this incredible option at TruForm Surgery. The implant process takes dedication. With us, you can be sure that you’re in safe hands. We’ll be with you every step of the way. To learn more about dental implants, contact us today at our office in Brighton, MI.