Extractions

When something is difficult, we say it’s like pulling teeth. In reality, tooth extractions are routine dental treatments that help prevent more serious dental problems. The most common tooth extractions are usually wisdom tooth extractions, but a tooth may also need to be removed if it’s coming in at an angle, threatening the position of other healthy teeth or contributing to overcrowding in the mouth.

In some cases, a broken tooth may also need to be extracted, as well as teeth with significant tooth decay that cannot be treated by a root canal. Patients with advanced gum disease may be considered for tooth extractions as well. While it’s your dentist’s goal to do everything to save your natural tooth, in the end, removing a potentially harmful tooth can spare you time, money and discomfort.

Wisdom Teeth

After wisdom teeth extraction, you may need to stay away from certain foods and strenuous activity for the first few days. The good news is with proper dental care, your mouth should start to feel normal again in 1-2 weeks. One potential complication of a wisdom tooth extraction, or any type of extraction, is dry socket. If you start to experience a dull, throbbing pain in the extraction site 3-4 days following, contact Robinson Dentistry immediately.

Keep in Mind

Whether you’ll be having a wisdom tooth extraction or a tooth is being removed due to decay, feeling a little anxious about pain is understandable. Most tooth extractions take just a few minutes. To reduce tooth extraction pain, you’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the tooth, jaw and gums. If you’re especially anxious about experiencing tooth extraction pain, sedation dentistry can be used to help you relax.