Fillings and crowns allow our team to repair teeth and address issues ranging from tooth decay to damaged teeth. But what if a tooth is beyond the ability to be treated with these restorations? What if instead, we need to remove a tooth completely? In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about improving oral health with a tooth extraction, so you can avoid major oral health complications.
The Reasons We May Extract a Tooth
When do we need to take a tooth out completely to protect your smile? If one develops an injury or decay/infection that cannot be addressed with a crown or a root canal, then removal could prevent the spread of infection to other teeth or the jawbone itself. We could extract teeth to make room for orthodontics treatment to pave the way for prosthetics, such as bridges or even a set of dentures. We could also prevent wisdom teeth impaction by taking out wisdom teeth before they erupt, protecting the alignment and health of your smile.
Ensuring Patients Stay Comfortable
We know the idea of oral surgery, even a minor procedure like a tooth extraction, can be a source of anxiety for some patients. But we always take time to ensure our patients are comfortable and enjoy a positive experience in our office. We will answer any questions you have and carefully explain the procedure to you. We will also numb the area with a local aesthetic and provide sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm, choosing from options like nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation. You will likely have little to no memory of the procedure at all! For some, the process could take as little as a half hour.
The Extraction and Aftermath
When we have planned the procedure in detail with digital x-rays and successfully numbed and sedated you, we will gently remove the tooth or teeth with a pair of forceps. We then suture the area closed, and provide prescriptions for medications to aid in the healing process. When you return home, we provide instructions to ensure the area heals properly and a clot forms, so you can return to your normal routine in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If you have any questions about how we plan and conduct a tooth extraction, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence again, and enjoy good oral health!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for Restorative Treatments
Our team wants to help safeguard your smile by taking on serious concerns such as wisdom tooth eruption or infection! To find out more about gently removing a tooth from your smile, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
