What You Need to Know About Dental Extractions
The thought of having a tooth removed can be frightening for even the bravest of individuals. It can also raise a lot of questions about the surgical tooth extraction procedure. Our goal is to provide our patients with the information they need to feel comfortable in every decision they make regarding their oral health. That includes answers to questions you may have about the various types of tooth extractions.
Wisdom Teeth Surgery
The removal of a patient’s wisdom teeth is probably the most well-known type of dental extraction. Sometimes referred to as third molars, your wisdom teeth usually begin to break your gums’ surface between the ages of 17 and 25 if they are going to erupt. It’s important to point out that some individuals may never have wisdom teeth break the surface, while others will experience wisdom teeth growing in at complicated angles.
When these molars grow in at an angle that will be disruptive to your surrounding teeth, they can sometimes become impacted (or stunted in their emergence). As such, the impacted wisdom tooth could result in several unpleasant symptoms such as pain, infection, and gum disease. Also, the erupted tooth could develop a cyst, which could, in turn, damage your surrounding teeth or the bone near the emerging wisdom tooth.
Impacted Tooth Surgery
Although impacted tooth surgery is most commonly associated with wisdom teeth surgery, by definition, the procedure can be performed on any tooth that is not breaking through the surface naturally. In most cases, this is a patient’s maxillary canine or cuspid teeth. In some cases, the only way you’ll know that you require teeth removal surgery is through a dental x-ray, but in others, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Pain when chewing on the affected tooth
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Bad breath
- Bleeding or swollen gums
These symptoms may come and go, making it seem like tooth extraction may not be necessary; however, it is always in your oral health’s best interest that the impacted tooth remains monitored by your dentist.
What to Expect During Your Dental Extraction
During your visit for a surgical molar extraction or even a simple tooth extraction (one that does not require surgery), dentists use advanced technology and tools to carefully determine the extent and type of extraction needed. As mentioned, teeth can be removed in two ways: surgical tooth extraction and simple tooth extraction, the latter not requiring surgery. At South Hadley Dental Group, we only perform simple tooth extractions in our office. For surgical tooth extractions, we will refer you to an oral surgeon.
In almost all instances, surgical tooth extractions are performed on an out-patient basis and are completed in about one hour per tooth, most commonly under local anesthesia. Ensure you communicate with your oral surgeon if you have any pre-existing conditions or concerns that could put you at a higher risk for complications. Having this information up-front will ensure that the recovery from your tooth extraction will be within expectations. In most cases, patients can return to their regular activities in a few days, although your dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions specific to your procedure.
Questions to Ask Your Dental Professional
As mentioned earlier, having answers to your questions is a critical component of patient comfort. The following are some questions that your dental surgeon can answer during your consultation:
- Is there anything we can do to prevent the need for extraction, such as using eruption aids?
- Do you know how much my insurance will pay toward the procedure; (or, if you don’t have insurance), how much will the extraction cost?
- Can I postpone treatment until I start to experience pain from the impacted tooth?
- Will I receive pre-procedure instructions to follow regarding food, drink, and medication limitations?
- How long will the extraction(s) take to complete?
- Do I need to have someone drive me home from the procedure?
- What type of post-procedure instructions do you provide?
- Are you available 24/7 for emergency dentistry post-procedure?
We’re Here for You
If you want to learn more about dental extractions near you, Dr. Aurora Fields can provide you with top-tier information. We invite you to make an appointment using our online booking tool or calling our compassionate dental care team to schedule a consultation for simple dental extractions near you.