At the office , our patients’ care and well-being are our top priorities. Every member of our skilled and experienced team strives to ensure patient comfort and a stress-free dental experience. Our dedication to the consistent provision of compassionate and personalized attention along with gentle, precise care has earned our office the respect and trust of our patients.
While we do everything we can to preserve the integrity of your natural smile, it’s sometimes necessary to extract a tooth to protect your oral health and overall well-being.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons why someone might need a tooth extracted, including the following.
Problems With Baby Teeth
In most cases, a baby tooth will fall out as scheduled as the underlying permanent one begins to erupt into place. However, occasionally a baby tooth remains firmly attached to the bone. Either the roots of the baby tooth have failed to resorb and shrink as intended, or the baby tooth has become ankylosed and fused to the supporting bone. The problem is that over-retained baby teeth can disrupt the development and alignment of your child’s smile. As we monitor your child’s smile as they grow, we’ll advise you if and when an extraction of a baby tooth is required to facilitate the eruption of its underlying permanent successor.
Extensive Permanent Tooth Decay
Beginning as a simple pinpoint defect on the outermost enamel layer of your tooth, untreated dental decay will continue to compromise healthy tooth structure as it works its way to the inner layers of the tooth. Without proper care, a cavity can lead to significant damage to the tooth structure, irreversible damage to the tooth’s nerve, a dental infection, and serious consequences for your oral health and overall well-being. When a tooth has sustained excessive structural damage and cannot be restored, a dental extraction may be necessary.
Severe Fractures or Cracks
Many different types of chips, cracks, and fractures can affect your teeth. The extent of the damage that it causes will determine if there is enough intact tooth structure to save the tooth and the type of treatment required. In cases where too much tooth structure or the root of a tooth has also been compromised, an extraction may be necessary.
Advanced Gum Disease
The most common cause of tooth loss in adults is periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. When left untreated, periodontal disease, which affects the hard and soft tissues that support your teeth, can lead to the formation of gingival pockets, gum recession, and a reduction in alveolar bone. As advanced and untreated gum disease progresses, the teeth ultimately loosen, fall out, or require extractions.
Poorly Positioned, Impacted, or Decayed Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, which are also known as the third molars, are the last permanent teeth to develop in the oral cavity and the final ones to come into place. However, as is often the case, many wisdom teeth do not have sufficient room to erupt, are not developing correctly, develop extensive decay, or cause issues for the adjacent teeth and the surrounding tissues. Although the extraction of wisdom teeth is sometimes recommended for older patients, the early removal of troublesome or potentially problematic third molars in young adults is more common.
Overcrowded Teeth
A discrepancy between tooth size and jaw size often results in a crowded and misaligned smile. More simply put, the upper and lower jaws are not large enough to accommodate all the permanent teeth. As part of an orthodontic treatment plan to optimally align teeth and establish an attractive, healthy, and functional bite, the extraction of select permanent teeth may be required.
How Is a Tooth Extraction Performed?
Whatever the reasons for a dental extraction, you can rest assured that your care is in the best of hands at our office. As the first step in care, our dentist will review your medical and dental histories and discuss any special considerations that may impact your care, such as existing medical conditions or current medications.
To thoroughly assess the tooth and the type of extraction required, we perform a comprehensive examination and take digital X-rays as indicated. Extractions are typically categorized as either “simple” or “surgical extractions.”
Simple Extraction
When the tooth is clearly visible in the mouth and the root anatomy is not extensively hooked, fused to the surrounding bone, or otherwise unusual, it usually falls into the category of a simple extraction. Once the tooth and the surrounding tissues get sufficiently numbed with a local anesthetic, your dentist will loosen any attached periodontal tissues and apply forceps to remove the tooth.
As with all dental procedures, we do everything possible to ensure your comfort and relaxation throughout every step of your care. For patients who are anxious about dental work or certain procedures, we can discuss additional options in dental sedation.
Surgical Extraction
For teeth that are severely broken down, ankylosed, or impacted, a surgical extraction is often indicated. We may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to perform this procedure.
During a surgical extraction, a small incision in the soft tissues and localized, precise removal of overlying bone provide greater access to remove the tooth.
As with all tooth extractions, patients are given a local anesthetic to completely numb the involved tooth and the surrounding tissues. Additional options in dental sedation, pre-surgical considerations, and directives are also discussed and explained.
What To Do After Getting a Tooth Taken Out
As skilled and experienced providers of care, we recognize that every case is unique and provide treatment tailored to the individual needs of each patient.
Depending on a patient’s specific needs, we provide postoperative instructions, including special considerations, activity limitations, medication guidelines, and follow-up care that support optimal recovery and healing. In some cases, postoperative care may also involve a patient’s physician. Generally, unless modified by our office, the following postoperative guidelines apply to simple extractions.
- Maintaining gauze pressure: Following your extraction, gauze will be placed over the extraction site for you to bite down on. By biting down and maintaining pressure on the gauze as instructed, any active bleeding should stop. You may change the gauze pad after the first hour. Continue to bite down for an additional 45 minutes if heavy oozing persists. While it’s normal for some oozing to continue for 24 hours, please contact our office if you are still experiencing profuse oozing or bleeding.
- Avoiding accidental injuries: Until the local anesthetic has completely worn off, it’s essential to protect yourself from unintentionally biting or injuring your lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue.
- Taking medications as prescribed: If you have been given a prescription for antibiotics, be sure to take the correct dosage and full course of medication as prescribed. It’s also helpful to take a pain reliever after the local anesthetic has completely worn off. Over-the-counter (non-aspirin) pain medication may be taken to relieve discomfort. Any prescription pain medication should only be taken as directed.
- Avoiding certain activities: Do not rinse your mouth, spit, drink through a straw, or suck on candies. It’s essential to allow the extraction site to clot and not dislodge the new clot once it has formed.
- Applying ice: Holding an ice pack in place over the facial area where the extraction site is located helps control swelling. Apply the ice for 10-minute intervals during the first day following your procedure.
- Avoiding smoking: Smoking not only prevents clot formation, but it also interferes with healing. Avoid smoking and tobacco products for the first week.
- Watching what you eat and drink: Stay away from hot or spicy foods and drinks for the first day or two. Also, refrain from drinking any carbonated or alcoholic beverages. Stick with a diet of soft foods and liquids for the first couple of days following surgery. Drink plenty of fluids.
- Practicing good oral hygiene: Brush gently; it’s essential to take great care not to disturb or irritate the extraction site for a few days. A very mild lukewarm saltwater solution can be used to freshen your mouth. Remember not to rinse or spit that first day or two. Simply let any liquids gently fall from your mouth into the sink.
- Scheduling a follow-up visit: If sutures (stitches) were placed or if a complex extraction, infection, or other issues require a visit to monitor your healing and progress, you will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment. It’s essential that you keep this appointment as provided.
Why Choose Dr. Yeterian and Dr. Marwaha?
You deserve quality care that’s personalized to meet your individual needs. At the office of Dr. Masis Yeterian and Dr. Angela Marwaha, you can rest assured your smile is in the best of hands. We deliver precise and gentle care, keeping you informed and relaxed throughout your tooth extraction procedure. If your tooth needs to be replaced, we’ll discuss your best options, including dentures, fixed bridges, and dental implants. As the most advanced method of tooth replacement available, dental implants come the closest to replicating the look, feel, and function of a natural smile.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you suspect you need a tooth extraction, don’t put off seeking the help you need. Contact our Greenwich office today at (203) 869-2884 or through our online form.