Often, we employ oral surgery to preserve teeth or to replace missing ones, from implant placement to ridge augmentation. However, sometimes oral surgery is needed to help the smile by actually removing a tooth. In today’s blog, your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons will look at the process of performing a general extraction.
When We Prescribe an Extraction
If you have a tooth that sustains serious damage and is beyond repair with a crown, then removal means preventing the onset of infection. Likewise, if you have an infection that has progressed beyond the reach of a root canal, then an extraction could prevent the spread to surrounding teeth. We help take out teeth loosened by gum disease as well, or to prevent wisdom teeth impaction and complications for your smile. If you have lost a significant number of teeth, then we could remove the remaining few to clear the way for a set of implant-secure dentures.
Ensuring Your Comfort and Health
Our team knows that people may feel a little nervous at the prospect of an oral surgery. However, we have experience in ensuring the comfort of each and every patient. For example, we could numb the area undergoing treatment, where the removal will actually occur. With sedation, such as oral or IV sedation, we could administer a calming agent to ensure you remain calm and comfortable, with no memory of the procedure afterward.
The Removal Process
Once we administer a numbing agent and sedation, we will gently remove the tooth in question with a pair of forceps. We may have to open portions of the gum or jawbone tissue to take out an impacted tooth, or to remove wisdom teeth. Afterward, we suture the area closed and may preserved the site should we plan on replacing the tooth with a dental implant.
Aftercare
A friend or family member should be available to bring you home. We will also prescribe any necessary medications, as well as detailed instructions for taking them. For the first day or two, you will need to rest, avoid vigorous exercises, and enjoy soft food options, like soup. Afterward, you will be able to resume normal activities. We will remove the sutures in a follow-up visit. Our team will help facilitate a complication-free healing period, so you can return to business as usual, but with a stronger and healthier smile. If you have any questions, then give us a call today.
Do You Have Questions About General Extractions?
We want to help you enjoy optimal oral health, and sometimes that means actually removing a tooth. To learn more about our approach to oral surgery, or to schedule a consultation, call Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
