Tooth Extractions & Oral Surgery Coral Springs

When are Tooth Extractions Necessary?

Helping you maintain your natural teeth is important. Unfortunately, we cannot always save your teeth, especially if the situation puts your oral and overall health at risk. We may suggest this type of treatment if:

• You need braces but cannot achieve the desired results because you don’t have enough space to address overcrowding
• Dental decay is spreading and putting your other healthy teeth at risk
• You have suffered facial trauma that causes you to have a tooth that cannot be saved
• Your remaining teeth are likely to fall out, but you need dental prosthetics
• You are experiencing advanced gum disease that causes your jawbone to shrink and teeth to loosen

The Process of Removing a Tooth

Our dentists have much experience in tooth removal, making them experts at helping patients remain comfortable throughout their visit.

If you have a tooth that needs to be removed, we will survey its current state to determine if a simple extraction is required or a surgical one. If it has partially erupted and is visible above the gumline, we will take specialized dental instruments and move the tooth back and forth until it detaches. If the tooth is impacted (beneath the gumline), we will make a small incision in the gums and remove the tooth in sections to avoid damaging the bone.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Making sure your mouth heals properly and completely is essential if you want to avoid any potential complications. After your procedure is complete, we will offer aftercare instructions you can take home with you. These include:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Consuming plenty of water to remain hydrated
• Taking prescribed or OTC pain reliever as instructed
• Eating soft foods in the days following your appointment
• Avoiding straws as well as spitting and smoking, as these can cause a dry socket to form
• Staying away from strenuous activity
• Keeping your teeth and gums clean using the right brushing and flossing methods

Bone Grafting After a Tooth Extraction

Bone grafting is not an uncommon procedure to have after tooth extraction. The reason is that over time, the jawbone can shrink and weaken if there is nothing to stimulate it. When this happens, the ability to provide any kind of tooth replacement becomes much harder. As the socket shrinks, the underlying bone will begin to deteriorate, so to combat this issue, we must perform a grafting procedure.

This is essential because:

• The jawbone must be dense to support future tooth replacement.
• Retaining existing bone is a much simpler and cost-effective process than trying to rebuild it after it’s lost.
• Neighboring healthy teeth can begin to shift out of alignment, resulting in the need for orthodontic treatment.
• Building up the jawbone allows for a more supple appearance instead of being faced with sagging facial features.
• Missing teeth need to be replaced (unless their wisdom teeth) with one of the following options:
  • Dental implants
  • Dental bridge
  • Dentures – full or partial