Sometimes, when a serious oral health issue arises, the best option to protect the health, stability, and beauty of your smile involves safely and comfortably removing a tooth. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists look at how we extract teeth, and when we prescribe this procedure for our patients.
The Process of Safely Removing a Tooth
How do we actually extract a tooth from your smile? Well, the first step is to administer a local anesthetic to help prevent discomfort. If a patient has dental anxiety, we could also discuss sedation options to help them enter a calm and relaxed state. Next, we gently remove the tooth with a pair of forceps. If we’re addressing wisdom teeth, then we may need to open the gums above them to access and remove them. We then suture the extraction site closed, and a friend or family member can bring you home. We will send detailed aftercare instructions with you.
When Do We Prescribe a Dental Extraction?
We may remove teeth that have become severely damaged, or those that have been loosened as a result of gum disease. For people with major misalignment, we may remove a tooth to make room to reposition the others. We often treat advanced tooth decay or dental infection with a root canal procedure, but if the issue has been allowed to reach a more advanced stage, then we may need to extract the tooth to prevent the spread of infection to surrounding teeth.
However, the most common reason we suggest this procedure is to address wisdom teeth. For people in their late teens and early 20s, these extra molars could erupt and lead to major complications, including misalignment, painful partial eruption (also known as impaction), and even damaged teeth or infection. However, by simply removing them prior to eruption, we preserve the health and beauty of your smile.
What Happens Afterward?
Following treatment, you will return home and avoid strenuous activities for the first day or two. As you heal, be sure to take an antibiotic or pain medication as prescribed. Also, enjoy soft foods for the first day or two, and don’t use a straw or prod the extraction site with your tongue. When you come in for a follow-up visit, our team will examine your smile and remove the sutures. If you have any further questions, then please contact our team today!
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX ABOUT DENTAL EXTRACTION
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, we want to help you maintain your healthiest smile. To learn more about our approach to restorative dental care, then contact your El Paso, TX, dentists at Sunny Smiles on Dyer Street by calling 915-859-7000.