When Do You Extract Teeth?

As a dental professional, we believe in using preventive dentistry and other means to help preserve your natural teeth and keep your smile healthy. However, sometimes to preserve your smile and avoid serious oral health complications, we actually need to remove a tooth. When do we extract teeth? What can you expect from this procedure?

Try Our Quiz on Dental Extraction

1. True or False: Your visit will be comfortable.
2. True or False: We can prevent wisdom tooth impaction.
3. True or False: An extraction can address serious infections.
4. True or False: We can replace your extracted tooth with a dental implant.

Answer Key

1. True. We will take steps to help ensure your visit is comfortable and enjoyable. First, we always use local anesthetic before removing the tooth. We can also sit down with you to discuss sedation options, particularly if you feel anxious about dental visits. With sedation, you remain calm and conscious, but have no memory of the procedure afterward.
2. True. Our mouths have evolved to fit 28 teeth comfortably, but the additional four that can arrive due to wisdom teeth eruption can lead to serious complications, such as impaction. When the third molars become impacted, they only partially erupt, leading to damage to adjacent teeth, as well as a greater risk of misalignment and infection.
3. True. For most infections, we simply perform a root canal procedure. This endodontic treatment allows our team to remove the infected tissue and restore the tooth. However, if the infection hasn’t been treated then removing the tooth may be necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
4. True. While we don’t need to replace wisdom teeth, if we remove a tooth due to infection or injury we can recommend a dental implant to restore your smile. If you have any questions about removing teeth or replacing them, then contact our office today.

Would You Like to Learn More About Dental Extraction?

We can take steps to ensure a comfortable tooth removal and discuss options or replacing your lost tooth. Schedule a consultation by calling Calcagno Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Rochester, MN, today at (507) 281-3659.