Having a tooth removed in adulthood is sometimes necessary due to tooth decay, infection, periodontal disease, broken or fractured teeth or trauma which leaves a tooth unable to be restored. Teeth may also be removed in order to make space for tooth alignment during orthodontic procedures, such as for clear or metal braces.
Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift or erupt too far, affecting appearance, your bite, and your ability to chew. It may make tooth replacements in the future more expensive, difficult, or impossible. For those reasons, your doctor may advise replacing the missing tooth or teeth with a implant, a fixed bridge, or a denture.
Tooth extractions are most often performed here in our office but may be referred out to a specialist under certain conditions. Before the tooth is removed, the doctor will administer local anesthetic injections to numb the area. Teeth are gently removed by loosening them slowly. Some teeth must be removed in pieces, requiring use of the dental drill. Sometimes, removal of bone around the tooth is also necessary. Some tooth extractions require stitches while others do not. After the tooth is extracted, the dentist will examine the area to ensure that a blood clot is able to form in the socket, then gauze will be placed you will be asked to bite down to reduce bleeding.
If the blood clot which forms in the socket is lost, a painful condition called dry socket occurred. Your doctor will discuss expectations with you following your extraction and welcome you back to the office if you feel you may have a postoperative complication such as dry socket.
With dental extractions in particular, it is important to be honest and complete with your doctor regarding your medical history and medication list as well as your history of smoking and alcohol use in order to reduce the risk of serious complications.