Tooth Extractions – North Dallas, TX

When Does a Tooth Require an Extraction?

If a tooth is being extracted, it’s likely because it has sustained a significant amount of damage from decay or a physical injury. Decay puts neighboring teeth at risk, while a cracked or severely fractured tooth can increase the risk of an oral infection spreading. Additionally, removal may be needed if it erupts underneath existing teeth, which is common for wisdom teeth. Regardless of the cause, we’ll make sure that you understand your treatment in great detail before going through with it.

The Tooth Extraction Procedure

There are two ways we may perform a tooth extraction: by pulling it out or using surgical extractions. For a tooth that has fully emerged above the gumline, we can simply pull the tooth out. First, we numb the area around the tooth. Then, we rock the tooth back and forth with a clasping tool until it breaks free from the gums.

When the tooth is impacted, or stuck in the gumline due to surrounding teeth, we perform a surgical extraction. Sometimes, this procedure can be as simple as making an incision in the gumline to reveal enough of the tooth to extract it. Other times, we may have to drill into the bone tissue or even break the tooth into sections and remove it piece by piece. Since each patient’s situation is unique, we’ll plan out every detail of your procedure at your consultation so you know what to expect.

What to Expect After a Tooth Extraction

After your tooth has been removed, we’ll outline a specific treatment plan to care for your smile during your recovery. Typically, we’ll prescribe pain medications to help you deal with any soreness or discomfort. You can also manage swelling and pain by applying a cold compress. Additionally, we’ll give you instructions such as when and how to change your gauze, caring for your remaining teeth, and warning signs that mean you should call your emergency dentist in North Dallas. For a few days following your extraction, we normally advise that you stick to a soft food diet and avoid smoking and drinking through a straw, so as not to disturb the extraction site. You can gradually introduce more varied foods into your diet as you recover and grow more comfortable.

Tooth Extraction FAQs

While extracting a tooth is almost never our first option, sometimes it’s necessary to preserve your oral health. Although this is actually a fairly common procedure, many patients still tremble in fear when they learn that they have to get a tooth removed. This is often due to not knowing very much about the procedure. To help set your mind at ease, we’ve decided to answer some tooth extraction FAQs in North Dallas down below.