About Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth entirely from its socket by a dentist or oral surgeon. Tooth extraction is performed when infection or decay-related tooth damage does not respond to conservative treatment. A healthy tooth must be pulled in cases where it prevents the eruption of a new tooth or needs to be removed in order to properly realign other teeth.

Tooth extraction is classified as simple or surgical. Simple tooth extraction is performed when the tooth is visible in the gums. A tooth that has not yet emerged completely from the gums requires surgical tooth extraction. Dr. Amit Shah has been doing both simple and surgical tooth extraction procedures since Amit Shah. Have your problematic tooth extracted here to restore your healthy smile and prevent the spread of decay or dental disease.

What is a Tooth Extraction Procedure?

Tooth extraction (tooth pulling) is the dental procedure of removing a tooth entirely from the gum socket. A tooth extraction dentist, oral surgeon, or periodontist performs tooth pulling in an outpatient setting. Teeth can be removed through simple extraction or surgical extraction. Simple tooth extraction is done for teeth that are visible above the gum line and can be removed whole. Surgical tooth extraction is necessary in more complicated cases involving impacted wisdom teeth and severely damaged teeth.

What are the Reasons for Having a Tooth Extracted?

A tooth is removed when an infection, decay, or tooth damage cannot be treated conservatively.

Here are the main reasons for wisdom teeth extraction.

• Teeth overcrowding. Teeth get crowded when there is not enough space in the mouth. Healthy spare teeth that prevent the eruption of new teeth must be removed in cases of overcrowding. Tooth extraction is necessary during orthodontic procedures in order to properly realign the remaining teeth.

• Gum disease. Severe infection from tooth decay that does not get better with conservative treatment requires tooth extraction. Tooth extraction in gum disease prevents the infection from spreading throughout the mouth.

• Impacted tooth. Wisdom teeth often get impacted when they fail to erupt from the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause dental pain and gum disease if left untreated.

• Organ transplant or chemotherapy. Those with compromised immune systems, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant, have their teeth pulled to reduce the risk of infections.

• Injury or trauma. Untreated dental trauma results in unbearable toothache and eventually requires the extraction of the affected tooth.

Preparation for Dental Extraction

Dental x-rays are taken before performing the tooth extraction process. Dental x-rays show the size, configuration, and positioning of the tooth that will be extracted including the surrounding bone.

A thorough medical history will be taken by your dentist for tooth extraction to determine whether you are currently taking any medications or have any conditions that might interfere with the procedure. Let your dentist know if you intend to receive intravenous biphosphonate therapy. The tooth extraction must be completed prior to this treatment to prevent bone death (osteonecrosis). Patients who take blood thinners must have a blood test before having a tooth extracted. The oral surgeon uses the blood test to decide whether to temporarily stop using the blood thinner or to switch to a different kind. Medical conditions must be controlled or treated before having a tooth pulled out. Let your dentist know if you have any of the following conditions.

• Damaged heart valves
• Congenital heart defect
• Renal disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Adrenal disease
• History of bacterial endocarditis
• Artificial joint
• Compromised immune system

You may need to take antibiotics in the days before the tooth extraction if the procedure is expected to last long, your immune system is weakened, or you have a certain medical condition. Switching to a different anesthetic or rescheduling is needed if you experience nausea or vomiting the night before the tooth extraction. Having a cold is another circumstance that calls for delaying tooth extraction.

Can a Tooth be Saved with a Root Canal Instead of Tooth Extraction?

Root canal therapy can save a tooth that is still viable in the mouth despite having a diseased pulp. The injured tooth pulp, which is commonly caused by infection, is removed during root canal therapy. In cases where a tooth cannot be saved such as in large cavities where the tooth’s structure becomes too weak for healing, tooth extraction is required. Tooth cracks that extend below the gum line also necessitate tooth extraction.

What Should I Expect During a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction procedure can be simple or surgical.

• Simple tooth extraction (closed extraction). A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that is visible in the mouth. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the tooth. A tool called an elevator is used by the dentist to loosen the tooth. Dental forceps are used to remove the tooth from the socket.

• Surgical tooth extraction (open extraction). A tooth that has not yet broken off at the gum line or erupted into the mouth is removed surgically. Local and intravenous anesthetics may be combined during surgical extractions. The oral surgeon or dentist makes a tiny incision into the gum to expose the tooth. The tooth can be cut or the surrounding bone removed prior to extraction.

You will feel a slight tugging or pressure but no pain during tooth removal. Inform your dentist right away if you feel any pain while having a tooth extracted. A blood clot forms in the socket soon as the tooth is removed. Your dentist places a gauze pad in the socket and encourages you to bite down on it in order to assist with blood clotting after tooth extraction. Stitching is required for those who need to have the gum margins closed over the extraction site.

How to Recover After a Tooth Extraction?

You should relax and refrain from strenuous activity for the first several days following tooth pulling. Follow these aftercare guidelines to encourage fast healing of the extraction site.

• Use an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time on the side of your tooth extraction.
• Take the prescribed oral painkillers to help reduce post-tooth extraction pain.
• Brush and floss your teeth but avoid the extraction site.
• Stick to soft foods such as soup, pudding, yogurt, or applesauce the day after tooth extraction. Slowly resume eating solid foods as the extraction site heals.
• Do not drink liquids with a straw in the first 24 hours after the tooth removal.
• Refrain from rinsing or spitting forcefully for 24 hours after emergency tooth extraction to prevent disturbing the blood clot in your tooth socket.
• Avoid smoking as this delays the healing of the extraction site.

How Much Does Extracting a Tooth Cost?

The cost of simple tooth extractions is between $65 and $300. Costs for surgical tooth extraction under anesthesia range from $125 to $650. Complex or soft tissue surgical extractions cost between $175 and $600 to remove fractured teeth. A portion of the cost of the tooth extraction treatment is covered by your dental insurance.

FAQs for Tooth Extraction Procedure

Areas we Serve

Our office serves the following communities.

• Downey