At Main Street Dental Smiles, we make it our priority to save damaged teeth and restore their health, form, and function. However, there are times a tooth is damaged beyond repair, leaving us with no option but to extract it. Our cutting-edge techniques, gentle approach, and sedation dentistry options will ensure you are comfortable while receiving exceptional care!
Do You Need a Tooth Extraction?
The following are some reasons Drs. Fort and Schilling may recommend having a tooth extracted:
Extensive Tooth Decay: Left untreated, tooth decay can infect the tooth pulp, leading to a root canal infection requiring prompt treatment. If treatment continues to be neglected, the damage may become extensive to the point that saving the tooth is no longer possible.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Periodontal disease, left untreated, can progress and erode the bone and tissues supporting the tooth, leading to loose teeth and even tooth loss. If a tooth has lost its support, it may require extraction.
A Broken or Fractured Tooth: Tooth fractures or damage can occur due to injuries, accidents, or biting down on hard foods or objects. Certain fractures cannot be repaired, especially if they extend below the gum line. Removing the tooth may be the only option to provide relief and prevent further damage to your oral health.
Teeth Overcrowding: Teeth crowding can occur when the jaw has no space to accommodate all the incoming teeth. Selectively extracting one or more teeth can help correct overcrowding by making the space needed for braces, clear aligners, or other orthodontic devices to move the remaining teeth into alignment.
Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth, being so far in the back of the mouth, are challenging to clean, leaving them prone to developing cavities and infections. Most people don’t have space to accommodate these third molars, often resulting in them being impacted (trapped in the jaw) or coming in at the wrong angle. These problematic teeth can affect the surrounding teeth and lead to a host of oral health conditions, so in many cases, extracting them is highly recommended to safeguard your smile.
What Can You Expect?
With the incredible advances in dental technology, local anesthetics, and sedation dentistry options, most patients experience minimal to no discomfort during or after the extraction procedure.
You will need a simple or surgical extraction, depending on your unique needs. Simple extractions are used to remove teeth that are visible and easily accessible. Surgical extractions, on the other hand, are required for weak, impacted, or severely damaged teeth or ones fractured at or below the gum line.
Promoting Healing After Tooth Extraction
We will provide you with post-extraction instructions to help promote healing. We may also prescribe pain medication for use as needed.
Make sure to avoid drinking from a straw, smoking, spitting, or rinsing vigorously for at least 24 hours after having a tooth pulled. Otherwise, you risk dislodging the blood clot forming in the tooth’s socket, leading to a painful complication known as dry socket.
If you have increasing pain, swelling, or bleeding at the extraction site, or if you have any concerns, make sure to contact our office for guidance.
Gentle Tooth Extractions Near me in Whitesboro, TX
Drs. Fort and Schilling and her team at Main Street Dental Smiles never spare any effort to save a damaged tooth. If, however, a tooth is damaged beyond repair, you can count on us for exceptional, gentle care. We invite you to call our office at 903-564-3451 to schedule your appointment today!