Tooth Extraction
When Tooth Extractions Are Necessary?
Accidents & Trauma
Unforeseen accidents or physical trauma can damage your teeth. Many times these events will chip or fracture your tooth beyond repair. In these rare incidences, the dentist will recommend extraction.
Tooth Infections
When a tooth infection penetrates the pulp, it will cause severe pain. If not treated immediately, the infection can spread and weaken your tooth. If your tooth is weak, it will be susceptible to fracture. At this point, the fractured tooth will need extracting.
Many times, patients feel they don’t need dental care after their pain went away. What they don’t realize is that the infection has killed off their pain-sensing nerves.
Economic Costs
For some patients, the cost to restore a tooth can be too high. Removing an infection from a tooth requires the root canal and dental restoration. This dental work can be cost-prohibitive for many. In these cases, it might make more economic sense to remove the problem tooth first. Then address the restoration later when capable.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Is The Extraction Painful?
Surprisingly, tooth extractions can be painless. For many, an infected or damaged tooth is the cause of their pain. So removing the source will bring excellent pain relief.
We go the extra mile to ensure your comfort. For any extraction, we can use local pain anesthetics. Our Beverly Hills dentist can also utilize IV sedation for patients. So now, patients with pain or anxiety fears can receive pain-free dental treatments.
How Long Is The Recovery Process?
What Are My Options To Replace The Missing Teeth?
What Happens If I Wait To Replace My Missing Tooth?
You may also wonder what will happen if you forgo getting a replacement tooth. This isn’t recommended since it will bring about its own unique set of issues long term. One is that your jawbone needs a tooth to provide resistance. This resistance is what keeps your jaw bone density stable. With no opposition, your jawbone will lose density. So if you decide to get an implant years later, you will need a bone graft to jump-start the bone density.
Another long term issue to consider is the stress and alignment of the jaw. Having a missing tooth will have you change your chewing habits. This can lead to compensations in your jaw mechanics. These compensations can lead to many imbalances, such as increased pressure and stress on teeth.
So if you’re in pain, don’t hesitate to call. We are a dependable emergency dental clinic in Beverly Hills. No matter what time of day or night, we can help with your urgent dental care needs. Call us today to get seen by a top-rated Beverly Hills Endodontist now.
What Our Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
A tooth extraction is typically used when the tooth is severely infected and can not be saved with root canal therapy, as its structure is significantly damaged by infection. Extraction can also be recommended in cases of dental abscess, when the infection spreads to the surrounding tissue, or if the previous root canal treatment fails.
People who do not experience any issues with their wisdom teeth do not need to remove them. Typically, wisdom teeth extraction is recommended in the following cases:
- Impacted wisdom teeth are fully hidden underneath the gumline and cause pain, discomfort, and gum irritation.
- Partially impacted wisdom teeth (only a part of the tooth erupts to the surface) can cause pain and also get infected, as it is hard to clean them properly.
- Severely infected wisdom teeth or recurring cavities
- In preparation for an orthodontic treatment or to preserve the results of an orthodontic treatment.
Tooth extraction costs between $300 and $600, depending on the type of extraction. A simple extraction of a fully adapted and intact tooth with forceps will cost less than a surgical extraction of an impacted or broken tooth.
Depending on the complexity of the case, tooth extraction can take between 10 and 60 minutes per tooth. Simple extraction procedures are typically very quick, with the extraction itself lasting only a couple of minutes. Surgical extractions of broken or impacted teeth may take as long as 30 to 60 minutes.
A simple tooth extraction is performed with forceps on a fully erupted and intact tooth. During a simple extraction, your dentist separates the gum tissue from the tooth and then pulls the tooth out of its socket. A surgical extraction involves making incisions in the gum to access an impacted or broken tooth.
Wisdom tooth removal always starts with your dentist administering a local anesthetic via injection in the gum. The anesthetic numbs the area and completely blocks pain during the procedure. Once the anesthetic takes effect, your dentist uses a special instrument to separate the gum tissue from the tooth and then pulls the tooth out with forceps. If your tooth is impacted (hidden under the gumline) or broken, your dentist will need to make incisions in the gum first to access the tooth. After the extraction, your dentist might apply stitches to promote healing if necessary. Then, your doctor will apply gauze to the area to help with bleeding and give you post-extraction recommendations.
More common risks and complications of tooth extraction include:
- Infection
- Dry socket (occurs when the blood clot that forms in the socket after the extraction is dislodged)
Both these issues can be avoided by closely following your doctor’s post-extraction care recommendations, such as:
- Maintaining sufficient oral hygiene
- Switching to a soft diet
- Abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and strenuous activities
- Taking the entire course of antibiotics if prescribed
In the majority of cases, local anesthesia is sufficient to completely block the pain during tooth extraction. In cases of complex surgical extractions of multiple teeth or if the patient finds it challenging to remain in one position for a long time, the surgeon might recommend one of the sedation options. Additionally, you can opt for sedation if you experience acute dental anxiety that prevents you from going through the procedure.
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