Tooth Extractions - Forest, VA
Removing Teeth with Ease
At Crossroads Family Dentistry, a tooth extraction is typically a last resort. In most cases, we’re able to save even the most damaged teeth, but even our doctors may not be able to work miracles, so sometimes the best thing that can be done is to remove a tooth. Why would a tooth need to be extracted? How do extractions actually work? Should you be scared of them? Read on to learn everything you need to know about having a tooth removed.
Why Would Someone Need a Tooth Extracted?
- A large cavity is simply too big to be repaired
- A tooth is so broken that there is nothing to put back together
- An infection has damaged the bone needed to hold the tooth in place
- A baby tooth isn’t falling out naturally/is blocking an incoming adult tooth
- Room needs to be created for a denture/upcoming orthodontic treatment
- A tooth has become impacted (stuck), painful, or infected
How a Tooth Extraction Works
Contrary to popular belief, dentists never actually pull teeth. This method is inefficient, painful, and frankly, requires much more effort than necessary. In most cases, after thoroughly numbing a patient, your dentist will grip the tooth with a pair of dental forceps and then proceed to gently rock it back and forth until it slips out on its own. With this approach, most patients don’t feel a thing when their tooth comes out.
However, if a tooth is not fully erupted and is still partially in the jawbone/gum line (which is often the case for the wisdom teeth or with teeth broken at the gum level), this will require what is called a surgical extraction. Once they are out, we’ll remove any gum or bone tissue that is holding the tooth in place, and then remove the tooth itself. Afterward, we’ll close the treatment site.
A patient may experience some bleeding, swelling, or soreness after an extraction, but these symptoms should be easily manageable and go away after a few days.
To learn more about how extractions work and why you might need one, contact us today.