Tooth Extractions

There are a few different reasons that you may need a tooth to be extracted. Extractions are most commonly needed to remove wisdom teeth that grow into your mouth improperly. The wisdom teeth are our final set of 4 molars, and they erupt much later than the other teeth, around the ages of 17-25.

Because of this, there often is not enough room in the mouth to accommodate all four wisdom teeth, which may grow sideways or crookedly, or fail to erupt completely. If this happens to you, you may be at a higher risk of complications like tooth abscesses, and the wisdom teeth could damage your other teeth, so extraction is usually recommended.

Extractions may also be required to remove teeth that have been seriously damaged by dental trauma, such as a slip and fall, or that have been damaged by extensive oral disease, like tooth decay or gum disease. If these teeth can’t be saved with alternative treatments, they may need to be pulled.

Finally, tooth extractions may sometimes be needed to prepare for other treatments. Before getting full dentures, for example, any remaining healthy teeth will need to be removed to ensure a proper fit for the dentures. Extractions are sometimes used for orthodontic purposes, too, along with braces and other oral surgeries.

After your tooth is extracted, Dr. Khanani will provide you with a comprehensive set of instructions to follow during the recovery process. Make sure you follow these to the letter to ensure your mouth heals properly.

Immediately after your treatment, you won’t feel any pain. But as your numbing and sedation wear off, you may start to feel some discomfort. If Dr. Khanani prescribes a painkiller, fill the prescription and take it as directed. If not, you can take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to help with pain. Applying an ice pack to the cheek near the extraction site can also help with discomfort.

You will need to take things easy for at least a few days after your extraction. Avoid heavy exertion and exercise. Do not drink through a straw or spit forcefully for a few days. Doing so can dislodge the blood clot in your now-empty socket, causing a painful condition called “dry socket”.

You can clean the extraction site by rinsing with saltwater. Do not brush it directly for 1-3 days after the procedure. You will need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods of up to a week or longer. In total, it can take up to 2 weeks to heal after a tooth extraction. Remember to follow all of the instructions provided to you by Dr. Khanani to ensure that your mouth heals quickly.

The process of tooth extraction may seem intimidating, but it’s quite simple, and the process is totally pain-free at Khanani Family Dental. Dr. Khanani will use a local anesthetic to completely numb the nerves in the treatment area. You won’t feel any pain or discomfort during your extraction surgery.

However, you will experience some pain after your treatment. When your numbing wears off, the extraction site may cause you some discomfort, and symptoms like bleeding, bruising, swelling, and inflammation are to be expected. However, Dr. Khanani will provide you with a set of instructions to follow as you heal and recover. Follow them to the letter to reduce your discomfort after surgery, and make sure your tooth socket heals quickly.

Yes. You should replace your missing tooth as soon as possible. Losing a tooth can make it harder to chew and eat, interfere with your ability to speak clearly, and make you feel self-conscious about your appearance, and these are all great reasons to replace your extracted tooth.

In addition, replacing your missing tooth right away will help protect your oral health. This is because, after you’ve lost a tooth, the nearby teeth will shift toward the empty area where the tooth used to be. This can alter your bite alignment and the position of your teeth, which is not a good thing.

Replacing your tooth with a partial denture, dental bridge, or dental implant will fill up this gap, and keep the other teeth from shifting. Dental implants have the added benefit of strengthening the jaw below the missing tooth, which helps preserve the jaw structure and prevents bone resorption after tooth loss.

At Khanani Family Dental, Dr. Salman Khanani practices conservative dentistry. What this means is that, whenever possible, we will work with you to save your tooth, rather than extract it. Preserving and saving a natural tooth is always a better option compared to extracting it.

So if you have a damaged tooth in Holden, extractions may not be your only option. It depends on the extent of the damage, and whether or not Dr. Khanani can repair and restore your tooth.

Most commonly, the best option is to perform a root canal on the tooth and repair it with a crown. If the tooth is infected, a root canal will remove the infected material from the inside of the tooth, replacing it with an inert material.

Then, a custom-made dental crown can be placed over the tooth to restore it. This crown will cover up the tooth, completely protecting it from any further damage or decay. As long as you brush and floss properly and see Dr. Khanani every six months for an oral exam, it will last up to 10-20 years.

So don’t consider extracting your tooth yet. Even if it’s severely damaged or causing you a lot of pain, it may be possible to save it. To find out and get started, contact Khanani Family Dental for an appointment. Dr. Khanani will examine your tooth and determine if any other treatments may be appropriate, or if tooth extraction is the best solution to your oral health issue.