About Teeth Extractions

Tooth extraction involves removing a tooth completely from its socket. Tooth extraction is done when tooth damage from decay or infection cannot be treated conservatively. A healthy tooth needs to be extracted in situations where it interferes with the eruption of a new tooth or to correctly realign other teeth.

Tooth extraction can be simple or surgical. Simple tooth extraction is performed when the tooth is visible in the gums. Surgical tooth extraction is done for a tooth that has not broken off the gums yet. Dr. Ronald Ayzin of Laguna Dental Center is experienced doing tooth extraction procedures since 2017. Getting your problematic tooth extracted stops tooth decay or infection from spreading and brings your healthy smile back.

What is a Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction (tooth pulling) is the process of completely removing a tooth from the gum socket. Tooth extraction is performed by a dentist, oral surgeon, or periodontist in an outpatient setting. The removal of teeth can be a simple or surgical procedure. Teeth that are visible above the gums and can be extracted in one piece require only simple teeth extraction. More complex situations involving impacted wisdom teeth treatment and severely damaged teeth require surgical teeth extraction.

What are the Causes of Extracting a Tooth?

A tooth is extracted in cases of infection, decay, or trauma that cannot be treated conservatively.

Here are the top reasons for extracting a tooth.

• Overcrowding of teeth. Teeth become crowded when there is not enough room in the mouth for teeth. It is necessary to extract healthy spare teeth that obstruct the eruption of new teeth. Orthodontic treatments necessitate tooth extraction to correctly reposition the remaining teeth.

• Periodontal disease. Tooth extraction is necessary when a severe infection caused by decayed teeth does not improve with conservative treatment. Tooth extraction in gum disease stops the infection from spreading throughout the mouth.

• Impacted tooth. Impaction commonly happens with wisdom teeth when they fail to emerge from the gums. Pain and periodontal disease can result from impacted wisdom teeth.

• Chemotherapy or organ transplant. People with impaired immune systems such as those undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant have their teeth extracted to lower the risk of infections.

• Trauma or injury. Dental trauma left untreated causes excruciating tooth pain and necessitates extraction of the affected tooth.

Preparing for a Dental Tooth Extraction

Dental x-rays are taken prior to the tooth extraction procedure. Dental x-rays display the size, shape, and placement of the tooth to be pulled as well as the surrounding bone.

Your tooth extraction dentist will conduct a comprehensive medical history to find out if you are taking any drugs or have any medical issues that could affect the tooth extraction. Let your dentist know if you will be undergoing therapy with the intravenous medication biphosphonate. The tooth extraction must be done before this procedure to avoid bone death (osteonecrosis). Patients taking blood thinners must have a blood test prior to tooth extraction. The blood test aids the oral surgeon in deciding whether to temporarily cease using the blood thinner or change it to a different type. Medical issues must be stabilized or treated before getting a tooth pulled out. Inform your dentist if you have any of the following conditions.

• Congenital heart defect
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Renal disease
• Liver disease
• Damaged heart valves
• Adrenal disease
• Compromised immune system
• History of bacterial endocarditis
• Artificial joint

You will need to take antibiotics in the days before the tooth extraction if the tooth removal procedure is anticipated to be lengthy, you have a compromised immune system, or you have a certain medical condition. It is necessary to use a different anesthetic or to reschedule if you have nausea or vomiting the night before the tooth extraction. Another factor that can necessitate delaying tooth extraction is having a cold.

Can My Tooth be Saved with a Root Canal Instead of Extraction?

A tooth that is still functional in the mouth despite having a damaged pulp is saved with root canal therapy. Root canal therapy removes the damaged tooth pulp which is frequently brought on by infection. Tooth extraction is necessary when a tooth cannot be saved, as in the case of big cavities where the tooth’s structure becomes too weak for repair. Tooth extraction is also necessary for tooth cracks that extend below the gum line.

What Happens During a Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction is classified as a simple procedure or a surgical procedure.

• Simple tooth extraction (closed extraction). Simple tooth extraction is done for a tooth that is visible in the mouth. The region around the tooth is numbed using a local anesthetic. The tooth is loosened by the dentist using a device known as an elevator. The tooth is pulled out of the socket using dental forceps.

• Surgical tooth extraction (open extraction). Surgical tooth extraction is done for a tooth that has not yet erupted into the mouth or broken off at the gum line. It is possible to combine local and intravenous anesthetics during surgical extractions. A small incision is made into the gum by the dentist or oral surgeon. The tooth can be cut or the surrounding bone removed prior to extracting the tooth.

You will feel a mild tugging or pressure without pain during tooth removal. Tell your dentist immediately if you experience any pain while the tooth extraction is being done. A blood clot develops in the socket as soon as the tooth is out. Your dentist for tooth extraction inserts a gauze pad into the socket and instructs you to bite down on it to help settle the blood clot. Stitching is necessary for people who need to have the gum margins closed over the extraction site.

What to Do After Tooth Extraction?

You should rest for the first days after having a tooth extracted and avoid physical exertion. Follow these instructions to promote quick healing of the extraction site after having a tooth pulled.

• Put an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time on the side of your tooth extraction.
• Take the prescribed painkillers to help manage post-tooth extraction pain.
• Brush and floss your teeth as normal but avoid the extraction site.
• Eat soft foods such as soup, pudding, yogurt, or applesauce the day after tooth extraction. Gradually reintroduce solid foods as the extraction site heals.
• Do not rinse or spit forcefully for 24 hours after the procedure to prevent dislodging the clot in your tooth socket.
• Do not drink from a straw in the first 24 hours after the tooth removal.
• Do not smoke to avoid delaying the healing of the extraction site.

How Much Does a Tooth Extraction Procedure Cost?

The average cost for simple tooth extraction is between $65-$300. Surgical tooth extraction with anesthesia costs between $125-$650. The cost for soft tissue or more complex surgical extraction for broken teeth is between $175-$600. Your dental insurance helps pay for a part of the tooth extraction procedure costs.

FAQs for Tooth Extraction Removal

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