At Millennium Dental, Beatriz Parra, DDS, in Redwood City, California, Dr. Parra and her team emphasize preventive dental care that stresses good oral hygiene and avoids significantly altering your smile. But there are some situations where a tooth can simply cause more trouble than it’s worth. Making an extraction is sometimes the best solution for your overall oral health. If you need an extraction, schedule a visit with Millennium Dental, Beatriz Parra, DDS, today by calling the office or booking a visit online.
Some of the signs that you might need to extract a tooth include:
These symptoms don’t always indicate a tooth that’s beyond repair, however. Dr. Parra can determine whether you need an extraction during a consultation.
One of the more common reasons for a tooth extraction is if you have wisdom teeth that your mouth doesn’t have enough room for. Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that were once necessary for our ancient ancestors but have become effectively unnecessary for modern humans.
Depending on how much room you have in your mouth and whether your wisdom teeth are growing in straight or are impacted, you might be able to keep your wisdom teeth. If Dr. Parra determines that you need to extract them, wisdom teeth removal is a similar process to regular tooth extraction.
First, Dr. Parra and the team use a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and the surrounding tissue. The procedure will be painless and won’t cause any discomfort.
If your tooth has broken through the gums, Dr. Parra and the team simply use a special tool to wiggle it back and forth until it’s loose enough to pull out of the socket. If your tooth is impacted and still below your gums, Dr. Parra makes a small incision in your gum tissue and lifts back the flap to gain access to the tooth beneath. In some cases, she can wiggle the impacted tooth out of the socket, but in other cases, she might need to break it into several pieces and remove it in smaller sections.
Once your tooth is out of its socket, Dr. Parra thoroughly cleans the area and uses gauze to encourage a clot to form. In some cases, she might also perform a bone grafting procedure after your extraction in order to reinforce your jawbone and prevent bone loss. Bone loss typically happens when you’re missing a tooth or teeth because your jawbone is no longer receiving stimulation. Performing a bone graft when you have an extraction helps prevent this.
Bone grafts are also sometimes necessary when you’re getting dental implants. Dental implants need a substantive foundation in order to anchor into your jawbone, and a bone graft can add much needed volume to your jawbone if you’re lacking in tissue.
The team can provide you with pain relief medication to take as your anesthesia wears off to keep your experience painless.
Once home, you should rest and drink plenty of water, but avoid anything that’s too hot or cold, since your extraction site might be sensitive for a few days. You should avoid using a straw while you heal since the sucking motion might dislodge the clot in your socket. Any swelling subsides within a few days, and you can use ibuprofen and cold compresses to minimize any discomfort.
Schedule your tooth extraction today by calling Millennium Dental, Beatriz Parra, DDS, or booking an appointment online.
