Tooth Extraction

While dentistry protects and preserves your natural teeth, a tooth extraction is sometimes necessary to protect your other teeth and overall oral health. At Maple Dental, cosmetic and family dentist Gurpreet Kaur, DDS, provides comprehensive oral health care to people of all ages living in and around Georgetown Place, Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne, and New Haven, Indiana, including simple and surgical extractions to avoid dental complications. Call the helpful staff at Maple Dental for genuinely personalized care, or schedule your appointment online today.

What types of tooth extractions are there?

Simple extractions treat teeth that can be seen above the gumline. Minor surgery is necessary if the tooth is impacted (has not yet come through the gumline). This is particularly common with wisdom teeth.

When is tooth extraction necessary?

The team could recommend extraction if restorative treatments like fillings, crowns, or bridges aren’t enough to address your oral health problems. This can be due to:

• Tooth crowding
• Impacted teeth
• Severe tooth decay or gum disease
• Injured or loosened teeth

You could also need a tooth extraction to avoid the risk of infection associated with other medical procedures, like an organ transplant.

What can I expect during my tooth extraction?

Your provider first completes a comprehensive dental evaluation to determine which type of extraction you need. They take digital X-rays and welcome any questions you might have. Depending on which extraction procedure you undergo, you can expect:

Simple extraction

If you need a simple extraction, your provider numbs the area and loosens the tooth. Once the tooth is ready to come out, they carefully remove it with forceps and cover the empty socket with gauze.

Surgical extraction

For a surgical extraction, your provider administers a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. They make a small incision in the gum to access the tooth and carefully break it into pieces that can be removed with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues. Once they have all the pieces, they rinse and clean the socket and stitch the gum closed.

Whether you had a simple or surgical extraction, the team provides detailed care instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.

What is recovery like after a tooth extraction?

Some general discomfort, bleeding, and mild swelling are normal after a tooth extraction and typically respond well to over-the-counter medication. If your provider prescribes antibiotics or pain medication, take them as directed. Be patient with your body as you heal, and get lots of rest and fluids.

You should start to feel like yourself again within 24-48 hours. Stick to soft foods, and don’t bite down on the empty socket for about a week to be safe.

Rely on the Maple Dental team for expert tooth extractions to keep your mouth healthy. Schedule your appointment today by calling Maple Dental or booking online.