Tooth Extractions – Greenville, TX
Remove Ruined Teeth to Preserve Your Smile
Although Dr. Garrad typically does everything she can to prevent potential problems and protect your grin, sometimes removing ruined teeth is necessary to preserve your smile. Injured ones are vulnerable to decay and disease, which can affect your gum tissue and jawbone if left unaddressed. If your tooth is too broken to be fixed with fillings or a root canal, then extracting it may be the only remaining solution.
Continue reading to learn more about what to expect from this procedure, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Why Choose Stone Street Dental for Tooth Extractions?
- Advanced Technology to Enhance Patient Comfort
- Multiple Sedative Options
- Flexible Financing & In-House Memberships Available
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
Sometimes, taking a troublesome tooth out of your mouth is necessary before its decay or disease can spread, but that’s not the only circumstance that might require an extraction. Dr. Garrad might also recommend this treatment for other concerns, including:
- Removing the culprit behind a severe or persistent toothache.
- Making space for orthodontics to fit and to be able to maintain the results.
- Ensuring that another restoration, like a full set of dentures, can be successful.
- Eradicating the source of an impaction or infection.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
Many patients worry that having a tooth taken out will inevitably be long and agonizing, but that’s fortunately not the case. Before we start, our team will apply a local anesthetic and provide sedation as needed to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed the entire time. Then, Dr. Garrad uses a device known as an elevator to gently lift the tooth from its socket so it’s easier to remove.
Then, for a simple extraction, she’ll gently grasp the troublesome tooth with forceps and wiggle it free a little at a time. However, impacted, infected, or difficult-to-access teeth might require a surgical extraction that involves making a small incision in your gums to access the tooth in question. Then, it may need to be broken into small pieces to be taken out safely.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
After your appointment, it’s essential that your mouth forms a blood clot over the site to protect the underlying nerves and bone tissue from harm. If it becomes damaged or dislodged, you can develop a painful complication called dry socket.
To heal as quickly and effectively as possible, we recommend:
- Taking any prescribed medications, like pain meds or antibiotics, exactly as ordered.
- Don’t brush or floss right away. Instead, for the first 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salt water to disinfect your mouth and reduce swelling.
- Drink plenty of water, but avoid straws. The force of suction can hurt your blood clot.
- Avoid strenuous exercises or activities that elevate your heart rate or blood pressure.
- Elevate your head at night to rest more soundly.
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol because they can keep your body from delivering essential nutrients to your mouth to fight infection.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
How Should I Prepare for My Tooth Extraction?
Above, we shared what to do after your appointment to prevent a dry socket and promote healing. But is there anything you should do prior to your procedure? The short answer is “yes!” For example, if you are being sedated, then you need to ask someone you know and trust to drive you to and from your appointment. We also recommend picking up anything you need beforehand, like over-the-counter pain medication and soft foods, as well as choosing something comfortable to wear the morning of.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
Since extractions are more extensive, it’s only natural for patients to wonder if they will experience any pain or discomfort in the treatment chair. Rest assured, your mouth will be thoroughly numbed beforehand to ensure that you don’t feel anything while we work to remove your tooth. Plus, we will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions so you know what to do to avoid any soreness or sensitivity during the healing period as well.
What Are My Options for Replacing a Missing Tooth?
Dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants are all custom, lifelike, and effective tooth-replacement options. The one we recommend for you will depend on a few things, including how many teeth we need to replace. For example, if we need to replace one of your molars, then we may recommend a dental implant because it can seamlessly fill the gap while replacing both the root and crown of your tooth. If, on the other hand, you are missing several teeth in a row, then we may suggest a partial denture instead.
Can I Smoke After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Unfortunately, smoking can lead to serious complications. So, we recommend steering clear of cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products for at least five days after your appointment. If you’ve had difficulty quitting in the past, don’t hesitate to let us know! We’re not here to judge; we’re here to share recommendations and tips with the goal of helping you maintain a healthy, happy smile.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat After Having a Tooth Extracted?
During the healing period, it’s important that you don’t eat anything spicy, acidic, sugary, crunchy, or sticky. Instead, eat plain yogurt, sugar-free pudding, vegetable soup, and the like. Make sure to double-check the temperature of what you eat first too; eating something too hot or drinking something too cold can lead to considerable discomfort.
What Can I Do to Speed Up the Healing Time?
If you’re someone who is used to being on-the-go, focusing solely on resting for a few days may be hard, but it’s extremely important. In fact, getting back into exercising or resuming your usual diet too quickly can prolong the recovery period even further. In other words, the best way to “speed up” the healing time is to follow all of the aftercare instructions we provide you with to a tee.
