At Artarmon Dentists, we offer an extensive array of services to make sure that we can accommodate your smile and oral health needs. Because we take a preventative approach to dentistry, we aim to stop any potential issues at an early stage before they can become more serious and expensive to deal with in the future.
In some cases, it may be necessary to remove your tooth. An extraction is the most common oral surgery that we provide. Of course, we will do everything possible to preserve healthy teeth. There are some instances, however, where the removal of a tooth is in your best interest. Some of the reasons that people have their tooth extracted include:
- Severe periodontal disease
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Injury or emergency
- Toothaches
- Full mouth rehabilitation
- Before beginning orthodontic treatment
Common Types of Extraction
For a simple extraction, your dentist will use extraction forceps to grip the tooth with and move these pliers back and forth to loosen the tooth before removing it.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth. These are the four permanent adult teeth located at the back corners of your mouth on the top and bottom. If a wisdom tooth has insufficient space to grow (impacted wisdom tooth), resulting in pain, decay or infection, you’ll likely need to have it removed.
Replacing Those Missing Teeth
After you’ve had a tooth extracted (except for wisdom teeth), we encourage you to replace it as soon as possible. That’s because, without something else to hold the place of your tooth, the rest of your teeth will begin to shift out of place. The result is a misaligned smile. We offer several effective options that we can discuss with you. These include fixed bridges or dental implants to fill the gap and restore the full function of your teeth.
Alternatives to Tooth Extraction
If you have a tooth that is infected or painful, we may be able to perform a root canal, soft tissue therapy or fit you with a dental crown.
Once your tooth’s structure is intact, you can consider your options for the next steps of treatment that best address your concerns and goals.
Ensuring Your Comfort
When you require oral surgery, we will make sure you’re entirely comfortable throughout the process. Before we begin, we’ll numb the area surrounding the extraction site before starting.
Your other options include inhalation sedation or oral sedation. You can also opt to have safe, gentle sedation dentistry that will help you relax. Inhalation sedation acts quickly and is reversible. You can even drive home afterwards after having it. If you opt for oral sedation, you should have someone drive you as the drowsiness can last for a few hours post-extraction.
If you have questions about extractions at our dental office, contact us today.
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.