Retaining your natural teeth for life is ideal, but there are times when you may need a tooth extracted. Extracting a diseased or damaged tooth can prompt better oral health by preventing the spread of infection to other areas of the mouth. At our dental office in Kissimmee, dental extractions are performed by Dr. Vincent Grosso who can determine if your tooth should be extracted.
When Extraction is Needed
There are several reasons why you may need a tooth extracted. When a tooth is so severely infected that it cannot be preserved through root canal treatment, extracting the tooth is best. Pulling out the tooth prevents infection or decay from spreading beyond the affected tooth to other areas of the mouth. In addition to stopping the spread of infection, another benefit of extracting a problem tooth is that any pain or sensitivity caused by the infection will subside.
Some specific reasons for performing dental extractions at our office in Kissimmee include:
- A severely infected, damaged, or decayed tooth
- Overcrowding in which there is insufficient space between teeth
- Impacted wisdom teeth that will not fully erupt
- Deciduous (baby) teeth that have not fallen out on their own
Tooth Extraction Procedure
The procedure for extracting a tooth is fairly straight forward, provided there are no unusual circumstances, such as odd positioning of the tooth’s root. One of the first steps after determining a particular tooth should be extracted is to take x-ray images. The images allow the dentist to examine the tooth’s root and the bone surrounding it. If potential challenges are identified in how the root is positioned, adjustments can be made prior to the extraction procedure to ensure everything goes smoothly.
At the time of the procedure, a local anesthesia will be applied to numb the extraction site. During the process of extracting a tooth, steps are taken to safeguard the bone surrounding the tooth and root so no damage is incurred. In some cases, a minimal amount of bone-grafting material is placed into the socket after the tooth is removed. This helps preserve bone, which is important as there is a possibility of bone loss over time following the loss of a tooth. Once the tooth has been successfully removed, the area is stitched closed and should be completely healed within one to two weeks.
Extracting a severely damaged or decayed tooth can lead to better oral health by preventing the problem from spreading. If you think you may need a tooth extracted and want to learn more about dental extractions, call our office in Kissimmee at (407) 350-5969 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Grosso.