Johns Island Teeth Extractions

Occasionally, a tooth becomes so injured, damaged, or diseased and must be removed. Here at Cypress Family Dental, we proudly serve the residents on and around Johns Island, South Carolina and welcome you to our practice. We invite you to read this general overview of the tooth extraction process so that you will know what to expect.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

There are various reasons why an oral care professional might believe tooth removal is the best therapeutic protocol. Common reasons include:

Damaged Teeth

In certain cases, a severely chipped or broken tooth cannot be saved. Teeth left in such a can make speaking or chewing difficult. Not removing a damaged tooth could increase the chances of developing more serious complications like an infection.

Preparation for Major Oral Surgery

Occasionally, a dentist must remove some of a patient’s teeth in preparation for oral surgery. For example, in preparation for orthodontics, some teeth may need to be removed for proper future alignment.

Infection

Even after infection-relieving procedures, a patient’s tooth might be too damaged to preserve. In such instances, the best course of action is often removal.

Preventative Measures

Dental infections can potentially spread to other areas of the body. This risk is increased for individuals with compromised immune systems. Under such circumstances, a dentist may choose to extract a damaged tooth as a preventative measure.

The Extraction Process

Preparation

Unfortunately, tooth extraction can be painful. To keep the patient as comfortable as possible during the procedure, some form of anesthesia is administered. The dentist will decide what type of anesthesia is best based on each patient’s circumstances and needs. A local anesthetic is often sufficient; however, for complex cases, general anesthesia may be necessary.

Removal

How the tooth is extracted depends upon the reason for extraction. For example, if a tooth is impacted, the surrounding tissues must first be removed before removing the tooth. In some situations, a tooth must be removed piece by piece.

After Extraction

Some mild bleeding will occur after extraction. This is usually stopped by gently holding gauze on the area until bleeding stops.

Special Considerations

During the tooth extraction process, concentrations of bacteria or other pathogens could enter the bloodstream. Individuals with healthy immune systems typically have no issues; however, those with weakened immune systems could be at risk for developing an infection. For those individuals, antibiotics may be necessary before and/or after the extraction

At-Home Care

It is important that patients follow the dentist’s instructions carefully after an extraction. The dentist will inform patients about taking pain medications, cleaning the area, what foods to eat ad avoid, and the type of activities one should avoid right after extraction.

Contact Us

If you need a tooth extraction or any other dental care services, we invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment. Our team of experienced dentists will perform a thorough examination and determine the most appropriate course of action for you.