Dr. Elizabeth Duling offers tooth extractions to her patients in Owens Cross Roads AL. Tooth extractions are needed when teeth are severely infected, damaged, or overcrowded. Impacted wisdom teeth may also need to be removed as they cause pain and tooth overcrowding for some patients.
As a general dentistry treatment, tooth extractions help remove the source of patients’ dental issues and often prevent problems from worsening. Patients may feel afraid that extractions are painful. However, we use local anesthetic and can also use nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. We always want our patients to feel comfortable when receiving treatment in our dental office.
Simple Tooth Extractions
Dr. Duling provides simple extractions, which remove teeth that are visible in the mouth. During treatment, the mouth is numbed and the patient is under dental sedation or anesthesia. Dr. Duling gently rocks the tooth back and forth, loosening it for extraction.
Simple extractions are typically used for overcrowded, damaged, or infected teeth. For more complex needs, we will refer you to a local surgeon. Dental implants can replace single extracted teeth, while bridges and dentures are recommended for patients with multiple or whole arches of missing teeth.
Do I Need a Simple Tooth Extraction?
Whenever possible, we believe in helping you keep your natural tooth structure. We’ll only recommend an extraction if we believe that it’s necessary for your oral health. Typically, this is for a tooth that’s severely infected or damaged. The infection from your tooth can spread to the bone if it’s severe. If we see this being a problem, we advocate extracting the tooth. It’s also possible for you to have a tooth so damaged that it can’t be repaired.
We may also recommend extraction with severe overcrowding. Clear braces and other methods can help with crowded teeth. But there are cases where your jaw isn’t big enough to fit all of the teeth you have. In children, this can usually be remedied with an orthodontic appliance. But as an adult, you don’t have that option. When your mouth is done growing, it’s hard to create more space.
Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth typically begin to grow during your late teens or early twenties. Also known as the third molars, wisdom teeth emerge in the very back of the mouth. However, most wisdom teeth do not have enough space to fully erupt. This causes impaction, which means they cannot come in vertically. Wisdom tooth impaction causes pain and can lead to overcrowded teeth.
Dr. Duling will take x-rays to monitor your wisdom teeth and determine if they need to be removed. She will often recommend dental sedation for this extraction. Following your treatment, avoid hard or chewy foods. We also recommend that patients take over-the-counter pain medication and use ice packs on their cheeks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tooth Extractions
Can I be sedated for a tooth extraction?
Dr. Duling offers sedation dentistry for patients who suffer from anxiety or fear surrounding any dental treatment. If you require an extraction, you may request the use of sedation. We offer both nitrous oxides, also referred to as laughing gas, and oral conscious sedation. Both of these sedation methods will put you in a deep state of relaxation so you can have your tooth pulled without anxiety or fear.
What is a dry socket?
A dry socket is a condition that can occur after a tooth is pulled. It can be very painful. It is caused when a blood clot at the extraction site does not form or falls out. The best way to avoid this condition is to follow all your aftercare instructions. This includes not using a straw and not smoking. Any action that requires suction should be avoided at all costs. We also suggest eating soft food and avoiding all food that has small particles that can get lodged in the socket.
Do I have to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth do not need to be removed if they are not causing problems. However, it is suggested to have them removed because they are hard to take care of. Teeth located that far back in the mouth are difficult to clean and sometimes your toothbrush cannot properly brush them. This leads to occurrences of tooth decay. On the other hand, if you can keep them clean and they are not causing any dental issues, then there is no reason to remove them.
Receive Dental Care Today
Do you need to remove your wisdom teeth? Are you looking for treatment for overcrowded teeth? Call Dr. Duling for treatment by calling 256.202.4186. You can also request an appointment with Dr. Duling on our website.