Tooth Extractions Little Rock

Reasons Why Tooth Extractions are Necessary

Tooth extraction isn’t something to take lightly. After all, natural teeth are your best tools for biting, chewing, and smiling. Given those facts, we usually suggest restorative procedures like root canal treatment or a dental crown instead.

Still, there are times when extraction is necessary to preserve your oral health. In particular, our office may suggest it if you suffer one (or more) of the following:

• Severe tooth decay or damage
• An impacted tooth
• A dental infection that could spread to other teeth or body parts
• Overcrowding that prevents orthodontic work
• A “baby” tooth that won’t fall out on its own

The Process of Removing a Tooth

After the initial consultation, our office will decide how to extract your tooth. Depending on your situation, we’ll perform either a simple extraction or a surgical one.

If the tooth is visible, a simple extraction will be used. After numbing your mouth, this method removes your tooth with a special pair of forceps. The dentist will use that tool to rock your tooth back and forth until it naturally separates from your gum tissue.

A surgical extraction, meanwhile, is employed when the tooth hasn’t fully erupted. In that scenario, a dentist will make an incision in the gums to gain better access. Once that’s done, they’ll divide and remove the tooth in sections to minimize bone loss. The dentist will then conclude the extraction by sewing up the incision.

Regardless of the method, a dentist often follows up extraction with tooth replacement options. That way, you can prevent the long-term effects of tooth loss.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

To ensure you recover well from the extraction, we’ll provide you with a detailed list of post-op instructions. That said, some good aftercare tips you should consider include:

• Manage post-treatment soreness with over-the-counter pain relievers
• Get plenty of rest so your mouth heals properly
• After 24 hours, rinse your mouth with salt water to clean the extraction site
• Avoid smoking to speed up the healing process
• Don’t drink out of a straw, as the suction can dislodge your blood clot

By following the advice above, your mouth will recover in no time. At that point, you should then give serious thought to replacing the missing tooth (or teeth). Doing so will keep surrounding teeth from tilting, restore more of your bite force, and more.