A tooth extraction is a dental procedure where we remove a tooth from your mouth. While keeping your natural teeth is always best, we sometimes need to remove a tooth for your health. As part of general dentistry, tooth extractions are sometimes necessary when other treatments cannot save a tooth. Dr. Damien Ren provides comfortable tooth extraction in his Bethlehem, PA dental office.
We understand that dental procedures can cause anxiety. At DICE Dental, we take extra steps to make sure you feel comfortable and informed. We’ll explain what you can expect during treatment and will numb your mouth so you don’t feel pain. Many patients find that knowing what to expect during the procedure helps them feel more at ease.
Reasons Why You Might Need a Tooth Extraction
You might need to have a tooth pulled for several reasons:
- Severe Tooth Decay: When a cavity is too big to be fixed with a filling or crown, the tooth may need to come out.
- Gum Disease: Advanced gum problems can make teeth loose and painful, making removal necessary.
- Crowded Mouth: Sometimes teeth need to be removed to make room for others, especially before braces.
- Broken Tooth: If your tooth is badly broken and can’t be fixed, it might need to be pulled.
- Infection Risk: Teeth that might cause infection are often removed, especially for people with weak immune systems.
- Wisdom Teeth Problems: These back teeth often lack room to grow properly and may need to be removed.
Dr. Ren works with patients who need tooth extractions to ensure this is the most suitable solution for their oral health needs. We also offer tooth replacement options, including dental implants, when needed.
Types of Tooth Extraction Procedures
Dr. Ren can remove problem teeth and work with local oral surgeons for more complex cases. The two most common tooth extractions are simple and complex. A simple extraction is a quick and easy way to remove a tooth. We usually do this when a tooth is badly decayed or damaged but is still above the gum line. Dr. Ren can gently remove a tooth within minutes if it isn’t impacted.
Sometimes a tooth is harder to remove, especially if it has broken off at the gum line or hasn’t fully come in. In that case, we’ll need to do a surgical extraction. This means we may need to make a small cut in the gums or remove a bit of bone to reach the tooth. You’ll be fully numb and comfortable the whole time, and you likely won’t feel any different than with a simple extraction.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to come in, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. Many people don’t have enough room in their mouths for these teeth, which can cause problems. Removing wisdom teeth can prevent problems like tooth pain. Impacted wisdom teeth can hurt a lot when they try to push through your gums.
You can also prevent damage to other teeth when you get your wisdom teeth removed. If you don’t have enough time for your teeth to grow, they push against your other teeth, causing damage and crowding. It can be hard to clean around wisdom teeth. Partially erupted wisdom teeth can also trap food and bacteria. Removing wisdom teeth can make it easier to clean your back teeth and reduce your risk of cavities and tooth decay.
Dr. Ren recommends wisdom tooth extraction when necessary for long-term oral health. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, we’ll refer you to one of our highly recommended local oral surgeons.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Read answers to common questions about tooth extraction treatment in Bethlehem, PA.
Does tooth extraction hurt?
During an extraction, all you should feel is pressure. You’ll otherwise be very numb. After an extraction, it’s normal to be sore for a few days (even up to 2 weeks). We may prescribe pain medication and will recommend a cold compress to reduce swelling.
What if it’s a tooth in my smile zone?
If we need to extract a tooth that shows in your smile, we can make you a removable piece called a “flipper.” It acts as a stand-in until we can permanently replace your missing tooth with a bridge, implant, or denture.
What if I want or need to replace this tooth in the future?
If you’re considering getting a dental implant later, we recommend a bone graft to protect the area. After teeth are extracted, the bone begins to shrink, and the sinus can dip into the area. A bone graft helps slow this shrinkage and keeps patients’ options open for implants in the future. Sometimes, we can also place an implant on the same day as your extraction.
Do you extract wisdom teeth?
We can usually extract erupted wisdom teeth. For all impacted teeth, we’ll refer you to a local oral surgeon.
Will I need stitches?
Whether or not we place stitches depends on how many teeth we remove and if you’re taking any blood-thinning medications. In some cases, you don’t need stitches. If we do place stitches, we’ll make sure to explain how to take care of your mouth while it heals. Most of the time, the stitches we use will dissolve on their own, so you won’t need to come back to have them removed.
Will you extract my teeth if I am taking blood thinners?
For patients on Coumadin, we require an INR taken within 48 hours of an extraction or surgical procedure. The INR must be under 3.0. For other patients on blood thinners, we may reach out to your cardiologist/PCP to see if they would like you to hold the medication for a certain amount of time before your procedure.
Schedule a Consultation
Get a comfortable tooth extraction from our dentist in Bethlehem, PA. Contact Dice Dental today at 484-917-2734. You can also request an appointment at DICE Dental online.