Tooth Extractions - Radcliff, KY
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Pain-Relieving Tooth Extractions
Dental extraction involves removing the tooth from its socket in the bone. Different underlying causes can lead to a tooth extraction, including decay or infection deep inside the tooth that can’t be resolved with a root canal and trauma or injury to a tooth that causes a severe fracture. Extraction may be required when space is too limited in your mouth to comfortably accommodate all your natural teeth or primary teeth don’t fall out to make room for permanent teeth. In addition, sometimes it’s necessary to pull one or two teeth to get braces. As for third molars, most people need wisdom teeth removed because there simply isn’t enough room in the back of the mouth and this can cause painful symptoms. If you’re facing extraction, you may be experiencing nerve-wracking anxiety, but simple extraction is a standard dental procedure that is easier and less painful than most people anticipate. At Generations Family Dentistry and Dental Implants, our dentist Dr. Shelton has the right skills and gentle touch to make the entire tooth extraction experience comfortable. If you have a troublesome tooth and are looking for a practice that goes above and beyond to make tooth extractions in Radcliff, KY as painless as possible, contact us today.
Why It’s Wise to Get Wisdom Teeth Extracted
Dr. Shelton will evaluate the position of your wisdom teeth to determine if current or future issues necessitate extraction. Impacted wisdom teeth should be removed before their root structure is fully developed. A wisdom tooth infection can cause irritation, recurrent pain, swelling and problems with chewing and/or swallowing. Other issues include cyst formation, crowding and damage to adjacent teeth. Although we offer removal of wisdom teeth in Radcliff, KY, we typically refer more complex cases to an oral surgeon.
Tooth Extraction Benefits
- Eliminates infection
- Relieves pain
- Corrects overcrowding or misalignment
- Prevents damage to other teeth
- Enables placement of orthodontia or dental implants
Dr. Greenwell Says From Fear to Freedom: How Our Practice Is Your Solution to Dental Anxiety
Our Tooth Extraction Process
Dr. Shelton will thoroughly review your medical and dental history and take digital X-rays to reveal the position and condition of the tooth and surrounding bone. While the cost of tooth extraction varies, we accept insurance from many carriers and offer financing to make paying for this procedure painless. For simple extractions at Generations Family Dentistry and Dental Implants, we numb the area around your tooth using a local anesthetic, then use a tool called an elevator to help loosen the tooth from its socket. After the tooth is sufficiently loosened, we use a forceps to grasp and remove it. For surgical extractions, we offer different types of sedation to make the procedure more comfortable and ease anxiety. A few incisions are made in the gum tissue to expose the root of the tooth and enable removal. After the procedure, the incisions are sutured back into place. For both types of extraction, we place a gauze pad in the area and ask you to bite down firmly. This pressure helps stop the bleeding and creates a blood clot in the tooth socket. It’s very important to follow our postsurgical instructions to ensure proper healing and recovery.
Recovery and Healing After Extraction
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is usually sufficient to alleviate pain, which you may experience for up to three days. Other than some pain, minor disruption to normal routines and avoiding certain foods for a few days, the majority of patients recover quickly. Typically, recovery from surgical tooth extraction can take a little longer. If you notice worsening pain after several days, increased swelling or a blood clot doesn’t form it or gets dislodged, call our office as soon as possible and we’ll schedule an emergency appointment. Lack of or displacement of a blood clot can lead to a complications called dry socket. Without a protective clot, bone and nerves are exposed inside your gums, which can cause extreme pain and potential infection. Treatment for dry socket includes cleaning the extraction site and placing a medicated pad inside the socket. The medicated pad needs to be changed daily until the site heals.
Replacing a Tooth After Extraction
Missing teeth can impact your smile function and appearance. Malocclusion (bad bite) can occur when you don’t replace a missing tooth because adjacent teeth shift and try to fill the empty space. Additionally, an empty tooth socket can attract bacteria that can lead to decay in adjacent teeth and/or gum disease. One of the biggest issues is that without the tooth to stimulate the underlying bone and keep it strong, the bone quickly deteriorates and this can lead to undesirable facial changes. Options for tooth replacement include bridges, partial dentures and dental implants. Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement and considered the gold standard due to their unsurpassed durability, longevity and natural-looking appearance. Once they fuse with your underlying bone, dental implants restore full functionality, prevent bone loss and stimulate new bone growth.