Do you have impacted wisdom teeth? Is your dental infection creating large holes in your tooth enamel? You may be a candidate for a dental extraction. At 615 Smile Design Studio, we work with local oral surgeons to provide tooth extraction treatment in Nashville, TN.
Tooth extractions are a part of our general dentistry treatments. Extractions help prevent complications from a damaged, infected, or impacted tooth or teeth. Ultimately, tooth extractions can help you maintain your oral health. We can also provide restorative care as needed after tooth extraction treatment to preserve the smile’s integrity.
Why Would You Need an Extraction?
Our dental office can remove and replace problem teeth to improve tooth function and health. There are multiple reasons why someone would need extraction treatment:
Dental Infection
Patients with cavities and abscessed teeth may need more than a root canal and filling. A root canal can remove an infection from a tooth, while a dental filling seals the tooth. However, if patients have larger cavities or a large portion of the tooth affected by decay, they may need the tooth removed. Severely decayed teeth can quickly spread infection throughout the mouth.
Tooth Impaction
Impacted teeth are teeth that do not have enough room to emerge. Wisdom teeth are commonly impacted. As the last permanent teeth to appear in your mouth, they can dig into the back molars or cause overcrowding.
Removing these teeth can prevent problems like tooth damage and even gum disease. Many patients in their late teens or early twenties will require wisdom tooth removal. If you feel your teeth emerging behind your molars, contact us for dental X-rays.
Dental Injuries
If a patient has a severely broken or fractured tooth, we may need to extract the tooth to prevent further damage. Dental injuries often create pain and discomfort when biting and chewing. Furthermore, a damaged tooth can worsen over time and damage other teeth in the smile. Extracting and replacing the tooth can create a more even and balanced bite.
Tooth Extraction Treatment in Nashville, TN
Before any tooth extraction treatment, we will examine your smile with dental X-rays. We can view the teeth, gums, and jaw with these X-rays. Additionally, we can view wisdom teeth that have not yet emerged. Our office best determines the type of extraction you need after a thorough examination.
We work with local oral surgeons to perform comfortable extraction treatments. There are two main types of extractions: simple and complex. During simple extractions, an oral surgeon uses a local anesthetic to numb the area and gently rock the tooth back and forth. Simple extractions remove teeth above the gum line.
During complex extractions, surgeons remove teeth at or below the gum line. It will take more time to remove these teeth. The surgeon may use local anesthetic and dental sedation so you do not feel any pain during treatment. You will need transportation to and from your procedure if you receive IV or oral conscious sedation during tooth extraction.
Tooth Extraction Post-Op Care
After a tooth extraction, the oral surgeon will place gauze at the extraction sites. This gauze helps stop bleeding and creates blood clots to protect the bone and nerve endings of the extracted tooth. We recommend gently biting down on the gauze and replacing the gauze every 30 minutes until the bleeding stops.
If blood clots do not form or if you accidentally dislodge these blood clots, you can experience a dry socket. Dry socket is a highly painful condition that can last as your extraction sites heal. The best treatment for dry socket is pain medication.
As you recover from your dental extraction, you want to consume liquids and eat soft foods. Eating soft foods will prevent irritation and pain at the extraction sites. Some commonly recommended foods include smoothies, yogurt, pasta, mashed potatoes, and soup.
It’s normal to feel sensitivity as numbness from the local anesthetic fades. We will prescribe pain medication that you can take as you recover. You can also hold an ice pack on your cheek for 30 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Ice reduces swelling and inflammation in the first 24 hours after your extraction.
Excessive bleeding is abnormal. If you experience continual bleeding multiple hours after extraction, contact our office for emergency dental care. We will help stop the bleeding.
Replacing Extracted Teeth
We provide restorative dental treatments if you need to replace one or more extracted teeth. Before we replace your teeth, we will allow the proper time for your tissues to heal. You must also be in good oral health for restorative care. Then, we may recommend one of these restorations:
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium post we place in the jaw bone. Implants can support single dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. Before we provide implants, we will ensure you have enough jaw bone to support the titanium implant posts. We may recommend bone grafting or sinus augmentation to ensure you are the best candidate for implant treatment.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge can replace single teeth or all consecutive missing teeth in a row. Traditional bridges use support from natural teeth on either side of a missing tooth gap. However, traditional dental bridges require tooth preparation that can affect already natural, healthy teeth. Dental implant-supported bridges are more stable and durable than traditional options. Implants do not require tooth preparation.
Dentures
A denture can replace rows or arches of missing teeth. Partial dentures replace missing teeth in different areas of the mouth, while complete dentures replace an upper and lower tooth arch. As with bridges, we recommend dental implant-supported dentures over traditional removable dentures. Dental implants avoid common problems, including slipping dentures and speech issues. Implants help patients eat the foods they love with fewer restrictions.
Call Our Dental Office Today
Do you need a dental extraction? Schedule a dental appointment with us online. Contact 615 Smile Design Studio for tooth extraction treatment in Nashville, TN, at (615) 637-2878. Do you have questions about extraction treatment? Please let us know at your next dental visit; we’re here to help.