Generally, dentists aim to preserve all of your natural teeth and keep them healthy for as long as possible. However, situations may arise when it may be necessary to have a tooth extracted. A tooth may have been severely damaged by trauma or decay and threatens the health of surrounding teeth; a young child may have a baby tooth that hasn’t fallen out yet, though it’s past the time for it to go; or your tween or teen will be undergoing orthodontic treatment sometime in the future and needs more space in the mouth. In each of these cases, one or more teeth will have to be removed.
While it may seem intimidating, tooth extraction is a fairly routine dental procedure. The complexity of this minor surgery will depend on the location of the tooth in the mouth and what its roots are like. For example, a tooth in the front of the mouth with a single straight root will be easier to remove than a molar with multiple roots. Impacted wisdom teeth can be especially challenging to remove. However, whatever the case is, you can have confidence that you and your child will be receiving the highest quality dental care at Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry.
A tooth extraction procedure will require x-rays to allow your dentist in Bloomfield, CT to assess the position of the tooth roots as well as the condition of the surrounding bone. By taking a look beneath the gum line, your dentist will be able to create an effective plan for removing the tooth.
Local anesthesia is usually administered for a tooth extraction, which will numb both the tooth to be removed as well as the surrounding bone and gum tissues. If needed, nitrous oxidesedation may be used.
To remove the tooth (or teeth), an incision will be made into the gums in order to access it. It will be gripped and loosened until it can be lifted from the gums. If it is lodged in place too firmly, it may need to be broken into smaller pieces before being removed. Once all the affected teeth have been extracted, sutures may be placed over the treated areas to help them heal.
Following a pediatric tooth extraction near me at Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry, you can expect some bleeding to occur, along with some mild to moderate discomfort and swelling. Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and/or aspirin can help with pain and swelling. In addition, your dentist in Bloomfield, CT may prescribe antibiotics to ensure that no infection occurs as the site heals. It will be necessary to stick with softer foods until it is more comfortable to eat as normal; this should take a few days.
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