When a tooth is decayed or infected, or injured, we often offer repair with a custom and lifelike crown. But what if the tooth can no longer be treated with a restoration? What if you have issues like wisdom tooth eruption on the horizon? In today’s blog, your Katy, TX, dentist talks about our approach to tooth extraction.
The Reasons for Extracting a Tooth
We extract a tooth that can’t be treated, and that by remaining in your smile could threaten your oral health. For example, we can remove teeth too decayed or infected for treatment, or ones that sustain severe damage. We could also remove teeth to make room for orthodontic treatment or to ensure a proper bite balance and better chewing function. If you have lost most of your teeth, then tooth extraction could be necessary to prepare your smile for a full set of dentures. If you have wisdom teeth soon to erupt, we want to prevent painful impaction and complications like misalignment, injury, and infection, so our team can remove these third molars before they even erupt!
How We Plan the Procedure
Our team will plan the procedure in detail to ensure a comfortable treatment experience and optimal results. With digital x-rays, our team can identify the position of the tooth and plan the removal without coming into contact with nerve tissues, blood vessels, or sinus cavities. Our team will also numb the area with an anesthetic, and can discuss sedation to help you enter a calm and comfortable state, so even patients with dental anxiety feel relaxed and enjoy a positive treatment experience.
Extraction and Healing
The extraction itself will be relatively quick. With some procedures taking as little as 30 minutes. Our team will gently remove the tooth with a pair of forceps, and then suture the extraction site closed. You will return home with instructions for aftercare and prescriptions for any necessary medications. You will return for a follow-up so we can remove the sutures and you can resume your normal routine. With situations like wisdom teeth or orthodontics, you won’t need to replace the extracted tooth. But if one is lost due to injury or poor oral health, we could discuss options like dental implants to provide a secure and long-lasting replacement option, one that looks and functions like a natural tooth.
If you have any questions about our approach to tooth extraction, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule Your Family’s Next Appointment Today!
Our team wants to help you enjoy good oral health with oral surgery. Call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX today at 832-437-3849 to schedule a visit and improve your oral health.
