If you have ever heard the term "tooth extraction," that is the fancy name for removing a tooth. Here at Dr. Xixi Wu we would prefer to leave the tooth if we can, but there are times when the tooth will need to be extracted. It is a common procedure; there is a good chance that you know someone who has had a tooth removed by a dental professional. He or she might even have a new dental implant to take the place of the missing tooth.

What You Need to Know About Tooth Removal

There is more to removing a tooth than just pulling it out, even though that is what many people assume is done. Here are some of the things that you might want to know about removing a tooth. There are many reasons why a tooth might be removed. If it is badly decayed, we might decide to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental implant instead of trying to save the tooth. Sometimes the tooth becomes loose, and there is not enough bone to hold it in the jaw. We will then remove that tooth. A tooth can also need to be removed because it was damaged due to some sort of facial trauma.

Another common type of tooth extractions has to do with wisdom teeth. These will often need to be removed because they are not coming in correctly or because they are crowding the other teeth in the jaw. It is rare that we will use a dental implant after removing a wisdom tooth. There are two basic types of tooth removal: simple extractions and complicated extractions. With a simple extraction, we can remove the tooth in one easy step. The tooth and its root will remain whole.

In a complicated extraction, we will section the tooth, or cut it into pieces. We will then remove each piece. This gives us better control over the process.

Tooth extraction can be done under local anesthesia. You will not feel it. Some patients prefer sedation so that they will not remember any of the procedure.

After a tooth has been removed, we will tell you what you need to do to care for it. You can use ice packs to keep the swelling down. We might prescribe an antibiotic. If that is the case, make sure that you take the entire course of the medicine.

One thing to watch for after a tooth has been removed is known as dry socket. This is when the blood clot that naturally forms over the empty socket dislodges or breaks down. If you feel more pain than expected, contact us immediately.

After we have removed a tooth, there are things that we might recommend to replace it. Here at Dr. Xixi Wu we would like to discuss your options with you. If you have pain in your mouth, or if you have not seen a dentist in a while, call (972) 669-9444. Regular visits to our office are the best way to keep your mouth healthy.