When Might I Need an Extraction?
Many people are concerned about tooth removal, but it could be the best solution for your smile.Modern dentistry always strives to protect and preserve natural teeth.
However, there are some cases when a tooth removal may be necessary, particularly when a restoration isn’t possible or when we need to prevent the spread of damage or decay (i.e. when it’s for the good of your smile).
Common reasons for dental extractions include:
Large internal decay
Internal decay is difficult to treat because it can spread and may be difficult for you to notice. The only way to detect internal decay is through x-ray imaging. However, not everyone gets dental x-rays regularly, allowing internal decay to progress without detection. When internal decay has spread extensively down to the roots of a tooth, it may be necessary to remove the tooth as well.Reinfection after root canal treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected pulp and cleans out the root canal before filling it. However, in some cases when the decay has already reached the bottom of the tooth root, the infection may recur, and the previously treated tooth may become swollen and decayed again. Although a second root canal treatment may sometimes be effective, it can be safer and less expensive to extract the tooth instead.Damage after a powerful blow
If your tooth is fractured and the damage is so severe, no amount of conventional dental restorations can save it. Your tooth will need to be extracted. We usually recommend this when the tooth pulp has become exposed and the roots have been broken or separated from the crown.Severely infected gum tissue
If your gums are infected, no matter how healthy your tooth is, it will be affected by gum recession. Sometimes, in order to make way for effective gum treatment, the tooth needs to be removed. However, this is only recommended when the tooth has absolutely no chance of surviving within the infected gum tissues.Removing Your Tooth
Discover how our North Bend dentists gently and skillfully perform an extraction.Tooth extraction is a quite simple and straightforward procedure. Our dentists in Coos Bay use modern technology with a gentle touch.
Here is how we remove a tooth:
Step 1
Before the extraction process, our dentist prepares the tooth. If there is internal decay, a rubber dam is applied over your mouth to protect your other teeth from infectious debris. We also inject a local anesthetic around the area to ensure comfort and offer sedation dentistry to ease anxiety.Step 2
A small incision may be made on the gums to give access to the roots of the affected tooth. Once the roots are exposed, we gently uproot the tooth and loosen it from the gums. We then apply cotton gauze to the extraction site.Step 3
Before you leave, our team provides aftercare instructions to promote healing at home. Remember, you’ll need a companion to drive you home because of the anesthesia in your system.For those who have medical issues like diabetes and heart disease, we take special precautions to help ensure safety.
Smile Restorations
How can we restore your smile?We know a missing tooth can be uncomfortable, especially if it’s a front tooth. So, we don’t want to leave you without options. We give you the option to restore it using any of the following custom solutions:
