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
We don’t want to remove a tooth if we don’t have a reason. Dr. Ren will only recommend a dental extraction to improve your oral health. You might need to have a tooth pulled for several reasons:
- Severe Tooth Decay: When a cavity is too large to be repaired with a filling or crown, the tooth may need to be removed. If decay reaches the inner part of the tooth, it can cause infection or severe pain. Removing the tooth prevents the problem from spreading to other teeth or the surrounding gums.
- Gum Disease: Advanced gum disease can weaken the tissues and bone that hold teeth in place. When teeth become loose or painful, extraction may be necessary to protect your oral health. Removing affected teeth can also help prevent the disease from worsening and harming nearby teeth.
- Crowded Mouth: Sometimes we need to remove teeth to create enough space for other teeth. This is especially common before orthodontic treatment like braces. Removing certain teeth can help your bite align properly and make your smile healthier and more comfortable.
- Broken Tooth: A tooth that is severely broken or cracked may not be repairable. If it causes pain, infection, or cannot support a crown, extraction may be the best option. Taking out the damaged tooth can prevent further problems and allow for replacement if needed.
Infection Risk: Teeth that are at high risk of causing infection may need to be removed, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Removing these teeth helps protect your overall health and prevent serious complications. Early removal can also make recovery faster and less complicated. - Wisdom Teeth Problems: Wisdom teeth often don’t have enough room to grow properly. These third molars can become impacted, cause pain, or push on other teeth. Removing wisdom teeth early can prevent future problems and make it easier to maintain a healthy mouth.
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 also 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you want to learn more? We’re here to help. Read answers to common questions about tooth extraction treatment in Bethlehem, PA.
How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?
Recovery from a tooth extraction usually happens in stages over several days and weeks. In the first few days, your mouth may feel sore, swollen, or tender. You might notice some minor bleeding. We’ll recommend that you use ice packs, eat soft foods, and take pain medicine so you feel more comfortable.
Within the first week, most of the soreness and swelling starts to go down as your gums begin to heal. Over the next few weeks, your jawbone and gum tissue continue to recover and fill in the space where the tooth was removed. By about two to four weeks, most patients feel fully comfortable, though complete bone healing can take a few months. Following Dr. Ren’s aftercare instructions will help your mouth heal safely and reduce the risk of complications.
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.
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.
Let us know if you have more questions or are unsure if you need a tooth removed. We can examine your mouth to find the right option for you.
