Tooth Extraction
Lacey, WA
 Dental extractions are a common procedure here at Karl Hoffman Dentistry, but they can still be scary for some people. If you need to have a tooth extracted, here is everything you need to know about the process. In addition, we'll talk about why the extraction might be necessary, what to expect during and after the surgery, and how to take care of your mouth post-surgery. We hope this information will help put you at ease and make the process as smooth as possible.
What is tooth extraction and why would it be necessary?
Tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth from your mouth. There are several reasons why this may be necessary. The most common reason for needing an extraction is decay and infection that has spread beyond the root canal system into the bone structure supporting it. This can be caused by untreated cavities or sports injuries such as teeth getting knocked out during athletic events like football and hockey games when you don't wear a mouth guard or sportsguard. Other times there may not be enough room in your jawbone to support all of your permanent adult teeth, so we'll need to remove one before they come in.
What are the different types of tooth extractions available?
There are two main types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. A simple extraction is when we use a set of forceps to gently wiggle the tooth out while you're under local anesthesia, usually without even needing stitches afterward! This may be necessary if there's not much decay in your teeth or no infection present. However, suppose the procedure needs to take longer than expected, or more damage is done. In that case, it can turn into a surgical extraction that will require sutures (stitches) and general anesthesia so that you don't feel anything during the surgery.
Surgical extractions involve making an incision/cut on either side of where your tooth used to sit before removing it with special tools like saws and drills. This type of extraction is usually only necessary if there's a lot of damage to the tooth or surrounding bone.
Extracting Impacted Teeth
Another type of extraction that you may need is an impacted tooth. When a baby tooth fails to fall out at the right time and gets stuck under the gumline, it usually means its root has not fully formed yet. This can be very painful for your child, so we'll have to remove this "impacted" or unerupted (not coming through) tooth with either local anesthesia alone or general anesthesia if they are older than about five years old.
Extracting Wisdom Teeth
Lastly, wisdom teeth extractions happen when molars don't grow properly during adolescence and cause pain and crowding within your jawbone, which makes it harder to clean them effectively, leading to cavities or infections around them over time. If you have a lot of crowding in your mouth or keep getting cavities around the wisdom teeth area even after they've been treated multiple times, we may suggest having them removed before it becomes too late.
The procedure for this type of extraction is similar to surgical tooth removal and will likely require general anesthesia so that you don't feel anything during surgery. You might need stitches afterward, but not always! Your dentist can advise you on what would be best for your specific case since every person's situation is different.
If you have any questions about what to expect during the tooth extraction process, don't hesitate to reach out and give our office a call at 360-539-3429! In addition, our experts at Karl Hoffman Dentistry are more than happy to help ease any fears or concerns you may have. |
