EXTRACTIONS

The main goal of dentistry is to preserve your natural teeth and keep them healthy for as long as possible. There are times, however, when it is in your best interest to have a tooth extracted (removed). This could be the case for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you have a tooth that has been severely damaged by trauma or decay; or an impacted wisdom tooth that may cause trouble for you later on. Maybe you will soon undergo orthodontic treatment or your child has a baby tooth that's stubbornly adhered, even though it's past time for it to go.

Tooth extraction is more often than not a very routine procedure. How straightforward this minor surgery is will depend on where the tooth is located in the mouth, the condition of the crown of the tooth and what its roots are like.

The first step in any extraction is a radiographic (x-ray) examination to assess the position of the tooth roots and the condition of the surrounding bone. This will allow any possible complications to be anticipated. The dentist will then numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow. In most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Your mouth will slowly fill in the bone where the tooth root was through the formation of a blood clot.