Tooth Extractions – Covington, GA
Protect Your Smile by Removing Problematic Teeth
At Dean Dental Care, our goal is to help you preserve your natural pearly whites for life. However, if a tooth becomes severely decayed, broken, or infected, it can pose a threat to both your oral and overall health. In these cases, we can protect your smile by removing problematic teeth with a gentle tooth extraction in Covington. If you have a damaged or painful tooth, don’t hesitate to call us and schedule an appointment to see if you would benefit from having it removed.
Why Choose Dean Dental Care For Tooth Extractions?
- Highly Experienced and Compassionate Dentist
- Calming Sedation Options Available for Maximum Comfort
- Several Options for Replacing Extracted Teeth
When Is Tooth Extraction Recommended?
There are only a few reasons why a tooth would need to be extracted, including:
- It’s so weakened or damaged that its function cannot be restored.
- It has a serious infection that is threatening the rest of your teeth.
- Advanced periodontal disease has permanently destroyed the tissue that holds it in place.
- A patient is about to get a new denture, but there isn’t enough room in the mouth for it.
- Wisdom teeth have become impacted, painful, or infected.
There are numerous benefits of retaining your natural teeth, so we only recommend extraction when it’s absolutely necessary. In some cases, the tooth may be able to be saved with a dental crown or root canal therapy. However, if there are no other viable options, removing the problematic tooth can eliminate the issue and restore your oral health.
What Is the Tooth Extraction Process Like?
If you end up needing a tooth extraction, knowing what to expect can relieve a substantial amount of stress.
Understanding the Extraction Procedure
We’ll work quickly to get you out of pain as soon as possible, usually by applying a local anesthetic to the area to numb it. If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed about your procedure, Dr. Dean offers calming sedation options that can help you sit back and relax while we care for your smile. Once you’re completely comfortable, we’ll carefully grasp the problematic tooth and genlty rock it back and forth. Eventually, it will detach from its supportive structures and slip out of its socket.
Healing After Tooth Extraction
Before you leave our office, we’ll give you specific instructions on how to care for your mouth during the recovery period. Generally, we’ll encourage you to rest for the next 24 hours and stick to a diet of soft, nutritious foods for the next two days. You’ll be instructed to take your prescribed pain medication or an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort. In most cases, we’ll recommend that you use and ice pack and rinse your mouth out with saltwater several times a day.
What Are My Tooth Replacement Options?
Leaving a gap in your smile after a tooth extraction can lead to serious complications later in life. Thankfully, we offer several replacement options to choose from.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a classic, affordable, and quick way to regain a full set of beautiful pearly whites if you’re missing one tooth or several consecutive teeth. This method involves placing dental crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap to support a lifelike restoration between them.
Dental Implant
When it comes to replacing any number of teeth, dental implants are the gold standard. A titanium post is fused with your jawbone and topped with a beautiful dental crown. This provides unmatched comfort, function, appearance, and longevity. What’s more, thanks to Dr. Dean’s advanced training, every step of the dental implant process can be performed right here in our office.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
From preventive care to cosmetic upgrades, many patients are afraid to commit to dental treatment because they’re afraid the procedure might hurt.
Fortunately, whether you need one tooth pulled or multiple, the first step is always the same: numbing your mouth.
Once the numbness wears off, some soreness and discomfort is to be expected. Following your aftercare instructions as closely as possible is essential to not only prevent infection, but also to reduce puffiness and promote healing.
Should your pain worsen, or you begin to exhibit signs of an infection such as a fever, please reach out to Dr. Dean right away.
Is There an Alternative to a Tooth Extraction?
Although tooth replacement options such as dental implants are extremely lifelike and durable, Dr. Dean’s first priority is always to save your natural teeth.
The answer to whether or not there’s an alternative to having your tooth extracted really depends on why Dr. Dean is recommending it be removed. For example, if it’s due to extensive decay, a root canal may be an option. If it is because of periodontal disease, root scaling and planing may help restore your oral health.
However, be aware that if Dr. Dean is recommending an extraction, these may not be viable options.
Should you require a tooth extraction to restore your smile and bite, you can rest assured that it is the very best way to get back your strong, healthy, pain-free smile.
What’s the Difference Between Tooth Extractions and Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
Although both procedures involve extracting a tooth, traditional tooth extractions and wisdom tooth surgery are very different procedures.
One of the biggest differences between the two is that while wisdom tooth surgery is designed to remove the third and final set of molars, tooth extractions can remove any tooth that is irreparable or causing overcrowding.
Another difference is that wisdom tooth extractions are frequently surgical procedures which allow the tooth to be removed even if it is impacted or located below the gumline.
Can I Smoke After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Because tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco and even e-cigarettes can delay healing, you cannot smoke or use any of these products following your tooth extraction.
It is recommended that you continue to abstain from using them for at least five days after your procedure. However, if possible, it is best to wait at least two weeks.
If you’ve had problems quitting tobacco in the past, don’t hesitate to speak to Dr. Dean. He isn’t here to pass judgement. He just wants to help you prepare for your procedure in advance and ensure that you have the best odds possible for proper healing.