Tooth Extractions – Tallahassee, FL
Alleviate Aches and Preserve Your Dental Health
Under normal circumstances, you can count on our providers to do all they can to help protect your natural teeth and prevent potential harm. However, if you develop severe damage, discomfort, or decay, we may have no recourse but to recommend an extraction to alleviate pain and preserve your dental health.
You’re not alone if you’re feeling a little nervous about the procedure. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect to help set your mind at ease, and please contact us with any questions.
Why Choose Boyd & Walther Tallahassee Dental Associates for Tooth Extractions?
- Address Toothaches and Protect Your Smile
- Advanced Technology for Improved Comfort & Accuracy
- Nitrous Oxide Dental Sedation Available
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
It’s normal to wonder why this treatment might have been recommended, and there are several potential reasons our team might have made the suggestion, which are outlined in more detail below:
- You have developed decay, damage, or disease that might spread to your other teeth or jawbone.
- The condition of your tooth is so severe that other services, such as a dental filling or crown, would be ineffective.
- To make room for other treatments, such as undergoing orthodontics or getting dentures, to be successful.
- To remove potentially problematic wisdom teeth.
The Process of Removing a Troublesome Tooth
Our team understands you might be somewhat anxious, but rest assured, we will do everything we can to help you feel calm and comfortable throughout your visit. For instance, we star the procedure by numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic, so you might feel pressure while we work, but not pain. We also offer nitrous oxide sedation, or laughing gas, that is inhaled through a mask placed over your nose.
Once you’re comfortable, we’ll lift the root from its socket using a device known as an elevator, so that it can be more easily grasped with forceps. Then, we’ll gently wiggle it until it comes free from the socket. Some molars or wisdom teeth may need to be removed in smaller sections to avoid damaging the jawbone.
Then, our team is happy to recommend an appropriate replacement treatment, such as dentures, implants, or a bridge, based on your unique circumstances.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Healing from this procedure requires that your mouth form a blood clot at the site to shield the recently exposed nerves and other tissues. Many aftercare directions are intended to help protect and preserve it so you can recover effectively while avoiding potential complications, such as a painful condition known as dry socket.
Potential instructions might include:
- Get lots of rest and avoid physical activities that elevate your heart rate or blood pressure.
- Drink plenty of water, but from a cup, because the force of sucking through a straw can dislodge the clot.
- Stick to softer, blander foods, so you don’t further irritate your already-tender tissues.
- Address discomfort by placing an ice pack against the sore side of your face or by taking over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Try not to touch the site with your tongue, fingers, or other objects.