Not all permanent teeth last forever. When there is no chance of saving a tooth, a dentist may need to extract the tooth to prevent it from causing further harm to the mouth & rest of the body.
Your Safety and Comfort are Our #1 Goals
At Carson & Carson, DDS we understand that having a tooth pulled can be a nerve-racking, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful experience, but our attentive dentists are well trained in making the experience as quick and as smooth as possible. We have over 45 years of experience delivering a pain free tooth extraction experience to the Ventura County area. Our team has successfully performed thousands of tooth extractions with most patients having little to no scarring and no discomfort after the procedure. Visit our wisdom tooth page for more information about wisdom tooth removal.
As requested by our patients, we are a certified sedation dentistry as a treatment option for a truly forgettable tooth extraction. Schedule an appointment with the Oxnard dentist with over 45 years of experience in the fields of dentistry – Carson & Carson, DDS. Find a dentist near me.
Request an AppointmentReasons for Needing a Tooth Extraction
There can be many reasons for needing a tooth extraction. Many common dental issues require tooth extraction as part of the treatment process. Some of these issues include:
- Severe Tooth Decay: Tooth decay, to the point beyond saving, is still the most common reason for a tooth extraction with almost 70% of extractions being done for this reason.
- Crowding: Sometimes teeth grow in too large for the available space in the oral cavity, and extracting teeth can help create more room for the remaining teeth to grow and align properly. For individuals straightening their teeth with braces, an extraction is sometimes required to create the space necessary to allow teeth to straighten. Crowding is a common issue for wisdom teeth, and when this issue is left untreated, it can lead to severe pain, formation of cysts in the gums, infections, headaches, crooked teeth, and the loss of surrounding teeth.
- Preparing Site for Future Restorations: A tooth may need to be extracted so that restorations can occur down the road. This is commonly the case when a patient is planning to get a dental implant in the future.
- Baby Teeth Extractions: Not all baby teeth fall out on their own, and some must be extracted by a dental professional to help create room for permanent teeth that are growing in.
- Dental Infections: Among the many variations of dental infections, there are some infections that require a tooth extraction because they are either inaccessible without pulling a tooth or have not been cured by antibiotics or Root Canal Treatment. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or an organ transplant have an elevated risk of getting dental infections because their immune systems are compromised and may be good candidates for a tooth extraction in the case of infection. Untreated dental infections can be fatal, so be sure to contact your dentist if you suspect anything is awry with your oral health.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Also known as the dreaded, third set of molars, wisdom teeth are removed for most people who simply do not have the space to house another thick set of molars in the back of their mouth. Often times, these teeth cause pain when they become impacted (stuck in the jaw) and are removed during the patient’s teen years for an easier surgery and recovery. Visit our wisdom tooth removal page for more information on the specifics of getting your wisdom teeth extracted.
Preparing for Tooth Extraction
When tooth extraction is the determined best plan of action, some preparations are made to ensure that the procedure is as smooth and painless as possible. First, we take an X-ray or CT Scan of your mouth to map the affected areas before the procedure. Then, we use this information to determine: the relationships between teeth, the relationships of nerves to teeth, or determine if any infections, bone disease, or tumors are present before the procedure. A few medical conditions may require additional antibiotics before the procedure as well and these can include having: an impaired immune system, liver cirrhosis, an artificial joint, a history of bacterial endocarditis, a Congenital heart defect, or a man-made heart valve.
Tooth Extraction Procedure
We perform both major types of extractions which are Simple and Surgical Tooth Extractions. For both types of extractions, we offer a variety of sedation dentistry options to our patients for a completely pain-free experience.
Simple Tooth Extractions are performed on visible teeth that can be removed with the proper use of leverage and force. In this procedure, the tooth is lifted with the help of an elevator and dental forceps and then moved around until loose enough to pull out. This is typically a quick and easy procedure that does not require more than a local anesthetic.
Surgical Tooth Extractions are performed when the tooth is not visible or not easy to access. Teeth that should be extracted this way are commonly either broken below the line of the gums or never fully erupted from the gums, and may require drilling into the jawbone to be accessed.
Tips for Post Extraction Care
Following a tooth extraction, some extra precautions must be taken to ensure the lowest chance of an infection or bleeding. It is important to follow your dentists’ instructions which may include:
- DO NOT drink from a straw, spit or rinse your mouth forcefully in the 24 hours following a tooth extraction. Creating suction in the mouth can weaken the blood clots or stitching in the wound leading to further bleeding and a slower healing process.
- Apply ice to affected area for 20 minutes at a time.
- Limit physical activity in the day immediately following the extraction.
- Eat soft or cooled foods for a few days.
- Gentle rinsing of the mouth with half of a teaspoon of salt mixed into a glass of water is advised.
- Take painkillers as needed/instructed. NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen and Advil are effective in treating the pain caused by a tooth extraction, but can worsen a situation that won’t stop bleeding.
- Contact your dentist if the blood clot has not formed in first couple of days and the bleeding will not stop, as this may indicate a condition called Dry Socket, which may require additional treatment from your dentist.
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