When your dentist informs you that we must remove one of your teeth, it is understandable to feel alarmed. After all, the goal of dentistry is to maintain the health of your teeth and their status in your smile! What you should know is that safely removing one of your teeth, is generally the last option available when we exhaust more conservative treatments to save your tooth. The extraction can remove the roots of a decayed tooth that does not have enough structure to support a dental crown. This procedure may also prevent an infection of your pulp from spreading throughout your jaw and into the rest of your body as well. Removing your tooth should be thought of as simply the first step in the process of restoring your healthy smile.
At your Newport Beach, CA dentist’s office, we can extract a problem tooth and help you place a prosthetic to return your bite. Solutions such as dental implants mean that you need not worry about a permanent hole after removing one of your teeth. This procedure can address your dental pain and put you on the path to recovery!
The Decision To Remove Your Tooth
At Balboa Dental Surgery, we perform the minimal amount of alteration to the natural structure required to address problems with your teeth. This means that when we extract your tooth, it is necessary to preserve the health of the rest of your mouth. Left untreated, tooth decay can remove so much structure that a filling or crown cannot reliably save your tooth. Likewise, tooth infections do not always completely respond to root canal therapy. This means that removing your tooth prevents the infection from entering your bloodstream and accessing the rest of your body.
Extracting Your Problem Tooth
To ensure your comfort during the procedure, we will apply a general anesthetic to your mouth that prevents pain during the extraction. We then loosen your tooth from its socket with special tools that apply force until the tooth is free. To prevent bleeding or potential infection, we pack the socket with gauze to begin your recovery. Over the coming weeks, follow our instructions for caring for your extraction site. Applying an ice pack to your cheek can help reduce any swelling, and you may take an over-the-counter pain pill as well.
Planning Your Restoration
When you recover from your procedure, we can discuss placing a restoration to return the function and beauty of a full set of teeth. A dental implant can secure a post directly into your extraction site to anchor a lifelike prosthetic that can last a lifetime!
Talk To Your Newport Beach, CA, Dentist About Booking A Tooth Extraction
For more information on how we can safely remove your tooth and plan a restoration, contact Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery at (949) 630-0143 to schedule an appointment today.
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