Sometimes teeth need to be extracted. That are several reasons why a tooth needs to be removed. A non-restorable tooth usually has too much decay to deem fixing it or an abscess which is an infection. There are also teeth that are called supernumerary, which means extra teeth. These teeth can cause issues with alignment by blocking the teeth from erupting the way they should. Often teeth need to be remove for orthodontic reasons. If the mouth is too small to hold all the teeth in alignment the dentist might suggest extracting one or more in each section of the mouth so that teeth fit better. It is rare that a person can handle wisdom teeth in the mouth. For the most part they are hard to clean and cause problems. The dentist will monitor wisdom teeth around fifteen and up to consider the best time for extracting them.

Simple extractions are easy and most patients do well with them. Dr. Young and his staff make the procedure easy and as pain free as possible. The tooth to be extracted is surrounded with local anesthesia so the patient doesn’t feel anything more than mild pressure.

Surgical extractions are a bit more complicated because the teeth are not easily accessed. If the teeth are so damaged that they have broken down to the gum line or are impacted surgical extraction is the only way to remove the tooth. This means that after the area is completely numb with local anesthesia the dentist can make an incision to uncover the tooth and remove it. Sometimes the teeth have to be removed in sections and the dentist will make sure all of the tooth has been removed. They will examine the tooth to determine if there is any root left behind. Roots have to be removed so that no infection can develop from remaining broken root fragments.

Post Op Instructions
After the extractions take place instructions are given on what to do during the healing process. Cotton is packed on the extraction site to help the socket form a blood clot. It is imperative that the instructions be followed to avoid infection and dry socket issues. No suction from straws or sports bottles is acceptable. The sucking can inhibit the healing process. If the blood clot is removed a dry socket will occur. This can be a very painful problem. Avoid sharp crunchy foods. A soft diet is recommended for a few days. Hygiene is very important. Gentle cleaning of the area to keep any bacteria out of the extraction site can help avoid an infection. A syringe is helpful in flushing food particles from the extraction site as well.

Silver State Dental can handle all of your dental needs. If or when the time comes that a patient needs an extraction feel confident that Dr. Young and his staff will make it the best experience possible.