At Atlanta Family Dentistry, we do everything we can to save your teeth. However, sometimes a tooth needs to come out to protect your health, and when that happens you are in good hands. We provide dental extractions with expertise and with a view to the long term health of your mouth. If you believe you need a tooth taken out, call today to schedule an appointment.
Do I need a dental extraction?
There are a variety of reasons why a tooth may need to be removed, such as:
- Not enough natural tooth structure left to save
- Cavity is too far under the gums
- Overcrowding (too many teeth for the space in your mouth)
- Tooth is cracked or fractured under the gum
- Advanced gum disease
- Unsuccessful root canal
However, in may cases a tooth that has an infection or is broken can be saved using other treatments such as a root canal, a crown, or even a filling. Only a dentist can judge which treatment will be best for our whole health.
Do I need a bone graft?
In almost all cases, a tooth that has been extracted needs to be replaced. Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing teeth today. However, in order to have a successful dental implant placement, you need to have enough bone in the area.
Without a bone graft, most patients will experience bone shrinkage in an area that has had a tooth removed. To help prevent this from happening, we almost always recommend a bone graft at the same time as our patients have an extraction. Doing this at the time of removing the tooth helps to prevent as much bone shrinkage and can help prevent the need for a separate grafting surgery later on.
What is tooth extraction like?
At Atlanta Family Dentistry, we make every effort to help our patients feel as comfortable as possible during a tooth extraction. We make sure our patients are very numb before beginning, and we also offer prescription sedation for patients who may feel anxious about the procedure.
Our goal is for your tooth extraction not to hurt. Most patients will feel pressure while we are working, but the anesthetic should prevent any sharp pain. Afterward, some soreness and swelling in the area are all normal. It’s important that you do your part to take care of the area and promote healing by doing the following:
- DO clean the area gently beginning the day after the procedure
- DO use warm salt water rinses
- DO allow any water or rinses to flow out of your mouth, or blot gently
- DON’T smoke or use other tobacco products, as it can increase your risk for a dry socket
- DON’T eat foods that are spicy, hard, very hot, or have small seeds
- DON’T strain or engage in heavy exercise in the days after the procedure
And remember, after a tooth is removed and healed, make a long term plan with your dentist about how to replace it.