When possible, we use our general and restorative treatments to address decayed, infected, or damaged teeth, restoring them. But sometimes, issues can arise that cannot be addressed with a dental restoration, and instead saving your smile means removing the tooth completely. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about tooth extraction.
The Reasons That a Tooth Needs Extraction
We may recommend extracting a tooth when damage occurs that cannot be corrected with a crown, and the same goes for cases of tooth decay or infection that cannot be treated with a crown or root canal. Otherwise, the infection could spread to different parts of your smile. We may take out teeth loosened by gum disease, or could even remove one or more to make room for orthodontic treatment. If you’re receiving dentures, we could extract the last teeth to make room for your new smile. We also suggest treatment if you have wisdom teeth soon to erupt, as taking out these teeth prior to arrival could help you avoid painful impactions, infections, misalignment, or damaged teeth.
How We Prepare Your Smile
A tooth extraction is an oral surgery that could take as little as 30 minutes to complete. We want to ensure the comfortable and effective treatment for you. To begin, we will plan the procedure in detail with digital x-rays, so we can pinpoint the position of the tooth and also avoid contact with blood vessels, nerve tissues, or sinus cavities. We then administer a local anesthetic to the area to keep you comfortable. We can also offer sedation to help you enter a calm and relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure afterward.
What Happens Next?
When you’re ready, we will gently remove the tooth with a pair of forceps and then suture the area closed. You will return home with precision for necessary medications and also instructions for protecting your smile and ensuring a clot can form and not dislodge as part of the health process. At home, eat soft foods for the first day or two, be gentle when you brush and floss, avoid straw use, and get plenty of rest. Take any medications we prescribed as instructed. In a follow-up visit, we will remove sutures. Most people return to their normal routines in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If you have any questions about the tooth extraction process, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Need Restorative Dental Care?
Our team wants to help you avoid issues that could threaten your overall oral health and smile beauty. Call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling (913)681-5500 to learn more about our general and restorative treatment options.
