Our skilled dentists at Elite Dental Arts only want what’s best for your smile.
To that end, we strive to help you keep the teeth you were born with for as long as possible. In some cases, though, removing a problematic tooth is the wisest choice for your oral health. Rest assured that if our dentists decide that a tooth extraction is in your best interest, we’ll ensure you feel safe and comfortable every step of the way. Keep reading below or call us to learn what you can expect with tooth extractions with our team in Millburn, NJ.
Why Choose Elite Dental Art For Tooth Extractions?
- Same-day appointments offered for dental emergencies
- Dental sedation available for comfortable & relaxing treatment
- Dentists with decades of combined experience
When Are Tooth Extractions Necessary?
Extracting a tooth is almost never our first choice. In fact, we’ll often try to salvage the tooth with a dental crown, root canal treatment, or some other restorative dentistry treatment before we resort to an extraction. However, a tooth extraction might be the ideal choice for your long-term oral health in cases of:
- Extreme decay or damage that no other treatment can repair.
- Severe infection that could spread to the surrounding teeth or tissues.
- A primary (baby) tooth has not fallen out of its own accord.
- Gum disease has weakened the bone supporting a tooth.
- Crowded teeth need to be removed prior to orthodontic treatment.
- Wisdom teeth that are impacted – stuck underneath the gumline.
The Process Of Removing A Tooth
To ensure your complete comfort, we’ll administer local anesthesia and sedation before starting your tooth extraction. Depending on your unique circumstances, we may perform one of the two types of tooth extractions:
Simple Extraction
If the tooth has fully erupted from the gums, your dentist will use a pair of dental forceps to gently wiggle the tooth back and forth until it breaks free.
Surgical Extraction
For an impacted tooth, we’ll need to take additional steps. In many cases, this requires making incisions in the gum tissue to access more of the tooth. We may also need to separate the tooth into multiple pieces and remove them individually.
Whatever the case may be, our team will closely monitor your vitals and make sure you feel safe and relaxed at all times.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
After your tooth extraction, our team will provide you with aftercare instructions designed to help you heal as quickly and comfortably as possible. Some of these tips may include:
- Take the pain medication that we have prescribed as instructed.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth for ten minutes on, ten minutes off.
- Drink plenty of water, but avoid using a straw.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for the first few days.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
- Be careful when brushing and flossing around the surgical site.
- Avoid foods and beverages that are particularly hot, spicy, crunchy, or hard for several days.
If you don’t start to feel better after two or three days, please give us a call right away.
Understanding The Cost Of Tooth Extractions
You’re already thinking about the prospect of having a tooth removed, so the last thing we want is for you to feel stressed about the cost of your care. It’s worth keeping in mind that the cost of a tooth extraction can vary based on a few unique factors. This includes but is not limited to the type of tooth being removed and the condition it was in prior to removal. No matter what needs to be done, you can expect our office to be fully transparent about your care and help create a treatment plan that fits into your budget.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Patients often feel nervous when it comes to having a tooth removed, and understandably so. Our team is here to help you overcome your apprehensions and make the process as simple as possible. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the treatment during your appointment. Until then, though, we ask that you read the answers to some questions about tooth extractions that our team gets asked the most frequently.
Can I Leave The Space Empty After A Tooth Extraction?
If the tooth getting pulled is toward the back of your mouth, you might not see a need to replace it. No one else is going to notice the empty space, after all. However, each and every tooth (with the exception of wisdom teeth) plays a vital role in your smile as a whole.
When even one back tooth goes missing, you may experience difficulty chewing, which can lead to problems with nutrition and digestion. A missing front tooth may create a lisp or other speech issues. Additionally, the teeth adjacent to the gap could drift out of place, resulting in all sorts of bite problems. For these reasons and many more, schedule an appointment with your dentist about replacing a tooth.
What Are My Options For Replacing An Extracted Tooth?
Nowadays, you have more options than ever for replacing missing teeth. These include dental bridges, which fill the gap by relying on two of your remaining teeth for support, and dentures, which can bring back an entire arch of lost teeth at once. However, we almost always recommend dental implants. As the only option to recreate the hidden roots of the teeth in addition to the visible crowns, dental implants feel and function exactly like natural teeth – much more so than bridges and dentures. They also reliably stay in place and can last for decades to come.
Following your extraction, we can discuss your options for filling the empty space. Know that if you choose dental implants, we can handle every step of the treatment process in-house since Dr. Dawoud is an experienced Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Does Getting A Tooth Extracted Hurt?
We understand that you may be worried about the possibility of your tooth extraction being painful. However, our dentists prioritize your comfort and safety above all else. Before beginning, we’ll make sure your mouth is completely numb. That way, you shouldn’t feel a thing during your procedure.
It’s normal to experience some minor soreness for a few days after a tooth extraction. If we prescribe pain medication, take it as directed by us. To minimize pain, we recommend taking the first dose right after your procedure – before the initial numbness even wears off. If your pain worsens instead of subsiding, please get in touch with us.
Can I Smoke After Getting A Tooth Extracted?
Smoking, vaping, or any type of tobacco use can slow down the rate of healing. That’s why we cannot recommend enough that you avoid tobacco for several days – ideally two weeks – after an extraction. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to quit for that long, let our dentists know. They can supply you with resources to help you.
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