When you come to us with a severely damaged tooth, or if you have wisdom teeth soon to arrive, you may need an extraction. This is simply a safe and comfortable tooth removal. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist talks about when and how we extract teeth, and when you may need a new prosthetic.
The Specific Reasons for Extraction
To preserve the health, beauty, and function of your smile, we may remove wisdom teeth before they erupt and cause painful impactions. We could also extract a tooth that is so decayed or infected, that it could spread the infection to other parts of your smile. The procedure could be necessary for teeth too damaged for repair with crowns, or to pave the way for the placement of a dental prosthetic, such as a bridge, or full or partial denture. We’ve even taken them out to provide room for orthodontic treatment, or to take out teeth loosened by advanced gum disease.
Safely Removing Your Tooth
To begin, we will take detailed digital x-rays to pinpoint the position of the tooth and identify sinus cavities and nerve tissues. We then administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable, and maybe also prescribe dental sedation. Once you’re relaxed and comfortable, our team will gently extract the tooth with a pair of forceps. The process only takes about 30 minutes on average. When the treatment ends, you will need a friend or family member to bring you home. For the first day, avoid solid foods, straws, and activity. Rest and avoid poking the area with your tongue. Brush and floss, but do so gently. Take any prescribed medications as instructed. In a follow-up visit, we can remove sutures if necessary.
Replacing Missing Teeth
In some cases, such as wisdom teeth or preparing smiles for orthodontic care, we don’t need to replace missing teeth. But for others, the gap left behind could complicate your oral health, leading to misalignment, TMJ disorder, bruxism, and more. To prevent these complications, we could discuss tooth replacement with a bridge, denture, or dental implant, restoring function, health, and beauty to your smile once again. If you have any questions about how we address missing teeth or gently remove them, then contact our team today to learn more. We would love to help you obtain a healthier smile in 2022, so give us a call for your next checkup and cleaning.
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTION
Our team is ready to help preserve your smile with a safe and comfortable tooth extraction. If you would like to learn more about oral surgery and restorative dentistry, contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.