Many patients fear pain if they need a tooth removed. However, we provide comfortable tooth extraction treatment for patients at Hebron Family Dental in Carrollton, TX. As a general dental treatment, they can prevent future dental problems. Removing problem teeth can prevent the spread of infection, tooth damage, and pain.
Our office can also provide tooth replacement as needed with dental implants. Sometimes, the best option for patients with problem teeth is to remove and replace these teeth.
Why Do I Need My Tooth Removed?
In some cases, we must remove one or more teeth to improve the health of the natural teeth and gums. We’ll remove teeth if you have these dental problems:
- Impacted Teeth: An impacted tooth is a tooth that doesn’t have enough room to grow. As a result, it can injure other teeth, increase the risk of gum and tooth infection, and cause regular tooth pain. These teeth can also become twisted or grow at an angle.
- Infected Teeth: We can preserve an infected tooth with a filling or root canal. But we must remove a tooth if your tooth infection progresses so far that it destroys the tooth structure.
- Damaged Tooth: If we cannot repair a broken tooth, we may recommend remove and replace it. Deep tooth fractures below the gum line are not easily repairable. Tooth fractures can also increase the risk of infection and dental abscesses.
- Overcrowded Teeth: We may need to remove a tooth if there is not enough room in the mouth to correct overcrowding. After we remove one or more teeth, we recommend orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile. Fixing overcrowded teeth will prevent tooth damage or wear.
We can also provide same-day emergency dental treatment if you need a dental extraction. A severe dental infection, toothache, or a broken tooth may require urgent dental care.
Tooth Extraction in Carrollton, TX
Before any tooth extraction treatment, we’ll take X-rays. With these dental X-rays, we can see any growing impacted teeth. We can also plan which extraction method is best for your teeth. Our office will create a treatment plan based on your dental problems.
During a simple extraction, we remove a tooth above the gum line. First, we’ll numb the tooth. Then, we gently rock it back and forth to remove it from its socket.
A complex tooth extraction removes teeth at or below the gum line. Because this treatment needs more time, we’ll use dental sedation. Sedation ensures that you do not feel pain or discomfort. You may even fall asleep during your treatment.
Removing Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the final permanent teeth to grow in the mouth. They typically grow when you reach your teens or twenties.
When you feel wisdom teeth growing behind your molars, contact our office. We’ll take dental X-rays and plan the right time for wisdom tooth removal. While not every patient needs these teeth removed, we recommend removing wisdom teeth because they can become impacted.
Waiting to remove wisdom teeth can also make them harder to remove. Wisdom teeth can dig into the molars, overcrowd the teeth, and create chronic toothaches. Removing wisdom teeth can improve your everyday comfort and prevent tooth damage.
Dental Extraction Post-Op Care
After your extraction, we’ll place gauze at the extraction sites. We recommend gently biting down on the gauze to help stop post-treatment bleeding. Gauze also helps blood clots form over the sites. These blood clots protect and cover the nerves and bone.
If these blood clots do not form or you dislodge them, you can experience dry socket. Dry socket occurs when a dislodged blood clot exposes the bone and nerves. This increases sensitivity and is highly painful. The only treatment for dry socket is pain medication and gentle care.
After your extraction treatment, follow these general instructions:
- Don’t Use a Straw: First, avoid using a straw for at least 24 hours. The sucking motion can pull out the blood clot that forms in the empty socket. If the clot comes out too soon, it can lead to dry socket.
- Eat Soft Foods: Stick to soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, or soup for the first few days. Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods can poke or irritate the extraction site. These foods can slow down healing.
- Take Medications: If you have pain, take any medication we prescribed as directed. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help, but avoid aspirin because it can increase bleeding.
- Use a Cold Compress: To reduce swelling, gently press a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel against your cheek near the extraction site. Keep it on for 15 minutes at a time. Then take a break.
- Avoid Smoking: Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products for at least 48 hours. Smoking slows healing because it reduces blood flow to the area. It can also increase the risk of infection.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Learn more about tooth extraction treatment in our Carrollton, TX, dental office with answers to these common questions:
What happens if you don’t replace an extracted tooth?
We won’t replace teeth we remove because of overcrowding. Our office will also not replace wisdom teeth.
But we’ll replace infected or damaged teeth. If you do not replace extracted teeth, you can experience these problems:
- Shifting teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Tooth or gum infection
- Toothaches
- Bone loss
After you heal, we’ll recommend the right restoration for your number of missing teeth.
How long will it take to heal?
After a tooth extraction, the healing time can vary from person to person. Generally, the initial healing period takes about one to two weeks. The gum tissue will start to close up, and you should notice less pain and swelling.
It can take longer for the bone underneath the gum to heal. This process may take several weeks to a few months.
How can I replace my teeth after a tooth extraction?
We recommend implant-supported restorations to replace your extracted teeth. You can restore a missing tooth or all your teeth with implants. Dental implants can support crowns, bridges, or dentures. While removable dentures and traditional bridges are less expensive, they may not last as long.
What foods should I eat after a tooth extraction?
Eat soft foods and drink liquids after your tooth extraction. Some common, easy-to-eat foods include:
- Scrambled eggs
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft tofu
- Pasta
- Warm soups
- Bananas
- Oatmeal
- Smoothies
While you can eat soft fruits, avoid fruits with seeds. The seeds can get stuck in the extraction site and irritate your gums.
Will pulling a bad tooth stop tooth pain?
Yes. You may feel discomfort for a couple of days after your tooth extraction. But removing the problem tooth will ultimately stop tooth pain and associated dental problems. You will no longer feel pain from an infected, damaged, or impacted tooth.
Can an impacted tooth fix itself?
No. If you have an impacted tooth, symptoms like toothaches, infection, or tooth damage worsen over time. The only way to reverse these symptoms is a dental extraction.
How much is a tooth extraction?
The cost of your tooth extraction will depend on these factors:
- Number of problem teeth
- Type of extraction
- Length of treatment
- Sedation and anesthesia
Affordable tooth extractions are possible. At Hebron Family Dental, we’ll work with you to fit dental care within your budget. We are in-network with many dental insurance providers. Our office also accepts CareCredit and Alphaeon.
Do I need to take off work or school after my tooth extraction?
We recommend taking off work or school two to three days after your extraction treatment. You will begin to feel normal a couple of days after treatment. You can also work from home, if possible, during healing. It will also take longer to heal after a complex extraction or extractions that remove multiple teeth.
Improve Your Dental Health
Remove problem teeth with comfortable tooth removal in our office. Schedule an appointment at Hebron Family Dental or call 972-236-5871. Please let us know if you have questions about tooth extraction treatment in our Carrollton, TX office.