Whenever it’s possible, the dentist at Harmony Dental Care in Oshawa, ON will attempt to restore damaged or decayed teeth. This can include using a crown or other treatments. Sometimes, though, it is impossible to save the tooth because there’s not enough healthy tooth remaining. In these cases, an extraction will become necessary.
There are other instances where Harmony Dental Care may recommend an extraction. These include stubborn baby teeth that don’t fall out on their own, overcrowded teeth that need to be removed before braces can be put on, and wisdom teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Because of a lack of space in the mouth, wisdom teeth will often need to be removed. Because of the space issues, teeth can be trapped underneath your jawbone or gums. The teeth may also erupt at an angle. No matter which of these happens, you’re going to be at a higher risk for cavities and gum disease because you won’t be able to clean all of your wisdom teeth.
The Extraction Process
For the most part, our emergency dentists will be able to perform a simple extraction. This is when the tooth is visible in the mouth. The surgery will take about 45 minutes.
The procedure begins by taking an x-ray of your mouth to see the condition of the teeth beneath the gums. We’ll give you a local anesthesia to numb the area where the teeth will be extracted. If you are very anxious about the extraction, you can also be given a sedative. The tooth will be loosened using an elevator tool and then removed with forceps.
If the teeth have not erupted or have broken off at the gum line, a surgical extraction will become necessary. This process involves cutting into your gums in order to gain access to the tooth. If it is necessary for the dentist to perform a surgical extraction on multiple teeth, such as impacted wisdom teeth, you will probably need a general anesthetic. This means you will be unconscious for the entire surgery. You will be given a list of discharge instructions following the surgery that you will need to follow for proper aftercare.
