As one of El Paso’s leading oral surgeons, we’ve built a reputation for providing quality oral care that’s painless, effective, and affordable. Our team is comprised of highly trained dental professionals who can see to your oral health needs and give you a smile you’ll love. Whether you’re suffering from a toothache or periodontal disease or need preventive dental care, we’ll ensure you enjoy lustrous teeth that are fully functional for years to come.
What is Tooth Extraction?
In dentistry, extraction means the removal of one single or multiple teeth from the oral cavity. There are a number of procedures that can be used to restore a damaged tooth, however, in certain cases, the extent of damage is beyond any restoration and therefore the tooth has to be extracted. There are two main types of extractions based on the technique used, those are simple extractions and surgical extractions.
Do I Need a Tooth Extraction?
There are a couple of different reasons why dentists prescribe this procedure. The most common is when a tooth is impacted, which stops it from growing normally. This is often why many dentists recommend wisdom teeth removal. Another is the need to make room in the mouth for proper tooth alignment. And one more is when teeth are badly damaged and impossible to repair.
How do know if you need an extraction? Visit an affordable dentist for a simple dental exam that will show signs of possible problems. If the dentist suggests a tooth extraction, have the procedure as soon as you can. Postponing the extraction can cause pain, infection, and misalignment. And if your wisdom teeth are the trouble, the only way to avoid discomfort is wisdom teeth removal.
Comfortable Treatment For Extractions of Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are just not necessary these days. That’s because we are able to better preserve our natural teeth so they don’t get worn out or lost as quickly as in the past. Nowadays, wisdom teeth are more likely to cause complications than they are to be useful. It’s best to get them extracted.
And even though some people are afraid of the wisdom tooth extraction procedure, it can actually be a very easy and comfortable procedure. Even if you’ve put off wisdom tooth extraction until after they’ve become impacted, we have the technology and techniques to make your wisdom tooth extraction more comfortable.
Do All Wisdom Teeth Have to Be Removed?
It’s common for people to have impacted wisdom teeth. These teeth are buried, either partially or completely, in the soft tissue or jaw bone, and are more susceptible to disease and other problems.
The problem is you can’t clean impacted wisdom teeth properly, so they can start to decay, and you can develop gum disease. Although less common, cysts or tumors can also develop around impacted teeth.
Dentists generally evaluate impacted teeth on a case-by-case basis to determine whether to remove them, he adds. If a tooth is fully impacted in bone and X-rays show that eruption is unlikely, your dentist will often recommend removal to prevent future problems.
What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction Procedure
The extraction process is actually a fairly quick and easy one. First, we’ll give you a local anesthetic to numb your mouth, so you don’t experience any discomfort during the procedure. If your tooth is impacted—or you’re having several teeth removed—you may also receive a localized anesthetic shot around the tooth to be removed during the procedure.
Once you’re anesthetized, we’ll pull the tooth. We may then place gauze into the empty socket and have you bite down to stop bleeding or in some cases, we might use stitches to close the gum up.
That’s it! After we’ve performed the extraction and stopped the bleeding, you’ll be ready to head home.
After Tooth Extraction
After the initial 24-hour healing period, you can gradually resume normal activities. You can gently rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution (8 oz. warm water, ½ tsp. salt) and brush and floss normally, being careful to avoid the open socket.
You’ll want to stick to soft foods for a few days, such as Jell-O, soup, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and so on. As your socket heals, you can resume a normal diet, but avoid hard foods that might injure your socket and impede healing, at least until you’re fully recovered.
The recovery period is typically just a few days, although it could take up to two weeks to fully heal from extraction. If you feel discomfort, remember to call our office immediately to explain how you are feeling.
Schedule a Tooth Extraction Consultation Today!
Schedule a tooth extraction consultation today by calling us at (915) 213-5480 or emailing us by filling out the form on this page. Our staff is friendly, professional, and ready to answer any questions you have about tooth extractions in El Paso, TX!