If you’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to remove a tooth, our team at Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, is ready to design a customized treatment plan and educate you on your different options. We have the experience to guide you through this process and bring back your confident smile.
If it’s a simple extraction and you only need to remove a tooth, a single tooth could be pulled in under 40 minutes. Each additional tooth pulled is going to add a bit more time to your total. Extra teeth may be able to get pulled in just a few short minutes, although some may take up to 15 minutes depending on their location.
Nobody wants to have a tooth removed, but the good news is that it’s actually a fairly quick and easy process. The first thing we’ll do is numb your mouth to keep you comfortable throughout the extraction. For more complex removals where you need multiple teeth pulled or some of your teeth are impacted, we may opt to use general anesthesia so you sleep during the process.
Once the anesthetic has been applied, we’ll pull out the problem tooth or teeth. Gauze may be put into the empty socket, or stitches may be used to close the gum. After that, you’ll be free to go home. When you’re ready, we’ll be happy to help you decide on the right dental implant to complete your smile.
A simple extraction is usually carried out on a tooth that is unbroken and fully visible. After the area is numbed, the tooth may be loosened before forceps are used to pull the tooth out.
A surgical extraction may involve a tooth that is either broken or below the gum line. Like with a simple extraction, an anesthetic will be used and then a small incision will be made on the gum so we can pull the tooth out. Both of these options can be fairly quick, but we will be able to give you a more accurate estimate for your situation when you come in for a consultation.
The kind of tooth being pulled can play a part in how long the process takes. Smaller teeth with short roots, such as incisors, are pretty easy to pull. Their single-root system means less resistance, so less time is needed to loosen the tooth.
Larger teeth can have two or three roots, and also are set further back in the mouth. While we are confident in our ability to remove a tooth no matter where it’s located, these factors naturally make extraction a bit longer.
While prep time in most cases may not make the process any longer than you were expecting, there are some factors that may tack on a bit more time. If we opt for X-rays before we start, or if you have questions, we’ll take some extra time for that.
General anesthesia may also add a bit of time to the process. It’s going to take a few minutes for you to fall asleep, and will also take some time for you to wake up and be ready to head out.
Once your tooth has been pulled, you probably won’t be hopping right up from the chair and running out the door. We’ll want to make sure you’re ready to leave, especially if general anesthesia was used. We will also want to be sending you home with information on what to expect after the extraction and any oral care tips you may need.
When you come in for a consultation, asking for a time estimate can help you pick the right day for the process. You may, for instance, need to set up transportation ahead of time. Depending on the kind of anesthetic used, you may want to have someone drive you, or you could plan out your bus route.
A time estimate can help you determine if you’ll need to ask for time off of work or school, although we will do our best to work with you and schedule your appointment on a day that will have the least impact on the rest of your week.
It’s very common to have anxiety about tooth appointments. We welcome you to ask questions so you can feel empowered and prepared for your tooth removal. Knowing as much as possible beforehand can help settle anxiety as there won’t be any surprises about the process.
When we tell you your time estimate, you can let us know if you have concerns about it. Some patients may have limited stamina when it comes to their ability to stay in a dental chair for extended periods.
If you struggle to be still for longer than a half-hour, let us know. We can go over different ways to help you through the process. Sometimes when this is a concern, scheduling your appointment on a day off so you can either relax and prepare, or exercise and work out some nervous energy, may be helpful.
Sometimes the jaw is just too small for all the teeth that want to cram themselves into it. Unfortunately, teeth don’t care if there isn’t enough room for them, and they’ll push their way through the gums even if it means shoving other teeth out of the way and into each other. Crowded teeth can cause an aching sensation in the mouth, and can lead to a misaligned jaw.
With some of these pushy teeth removed, the rest of your teeth can be straightened which can offer cosmetic benefits as well as more comfort. We will take some x-rays of your teeth to pick the right ones to be removed. If we discover we can straighten your smile without removing a tooth, we’ll provide you those options instead. However, if we determine a tooth removal is necessary, we can go ahead and do that for you.
Dental trauma can happen in a multitude of ways. You could be playing a sport without a mouthguard, and get hit right in the face. You could hit your mouth during a car accident, or a fall. When teeth are knocked loose or the jaw is injured, tooth removal may be necessary to correct your bite.
If tooth disease has progressed beyond what a root canal can fix, your tooth may have to be removed. Untreated tooth disease can lead to infection, which isn’t just bad for your teeth, it’s bad for your whole body. Correcting tooth disease can help protect your heart and lung health, and even your other teeth in the long run.
In many cases, a root canal can fix this problem before it reaches that point. This is one reason why routine dental cleanings are so important, so we can catch any issue before it progresses.
If you don’t need general anesthesia and will be awake during the process, bringing some earbuds with you to listen to music or an audiobook is a great way to pass the time. It may also help block out some of the noise that happens while a tooth is being removed.
Soft food is going to be your friend for a few days after your tooth extraction, but soft food doesn’t necessarily have to be boring. Some ideas of soft food you can enjoy include:
We may give you individualized advice on what foods to eat and avoid depending on your unique needs, but in general, avoiding hard foods and enjoying soft foods, especially ones that are cool, will be helpful for the first few days after an extraction.
Smoking can lead to a dry socket, so we recommend that you not smoke for 24 to 72 hours after your tooth extraction.
Dental implants are titanium rods that go under your gums and can support single or multiple replacement teeth, or dentures. Replacement teeth can be fixed, meaning they stay in your mouth and act just like your natural tooth used to, or they can be removable, like implant-supported dentures.
Our team offers implant-supported dentures to give our patients a beautiful, long-lasting smile. Titanium rods will replace the role that the roots of your missing teeth used to play in both protecting the jaw from deteriorating and keeping your other teeth in place.
Dentures can be connected to these rods to seamlessly blend into your gums. With healthy gums and proper care, implant-supported dentures may last twenty years or more.
One thing many patients don’t realize is the role each tooth plays in keeping their jawbone healthy. When teeth are lost, the jawbone can begin to lose mass. The titanium material used for implants isn’t just biocompatible, it’s also able to merge with the jawbone itself.
This means you have a very sturdy implant that’s resistant to dental decay, and also is adding strength to the jawbone. This can help maintain your face shape and prevent loose skin from forming around the mouth due to jawbone deterioration.
Some patients find themselves feeling self-conscious if they lose teeth that were visible while talking. Having a replacement put in can help these patients regain their confidence so they don’t think twice about smiling for a picture or enjoying a conversation.
With many years of knowledge and experience, we’re ready to help you find the right solution to your dental needs. If you’re ready to learn more about how we can help your smile, reach out to Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, today for your consultation.
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