Tooth Extractions

Dentists dedicate themselves to saving a damaged tooth before removing it, but sometimes a tooth extraction is the best option. The compassionate dentists at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, carefully examine your teeth, consider all your options, and recommend an extraction only when absolutely necessary. Since they specialize in sedation dentistry, you can be sure you'll have a painless tooth extraction. If you have damaged teeth or pain, call the office in Woodbridge, Virginia, or book an appointment online today.

When would I need a tooth extraction?

The team at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, does everything they can to preserve your natural teeth; however, some dental conditions require a tooth extraction.

You may need to have the tooth removed if it has extensive damage due to an injury or decay or when you don't have enough healthy tooth left to restore it with a crown or filling.

Sometimes people need one or more teeth extracted when their jawbone isn't large enough to hold all their teeth. You also need an extraction for an impacted tooth. Impaction occurs when the tooth fails to grow up through the gum and gets stuck in the jaw.

What happens before a tooth extraction?

Before extraction, your provider at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, reviews your medical history and talks with you about medications you should avoid right before your procedure.

They also explain the type of extraction and your anesthesia and sedation options. Most tooth extractions need only a local anesthetic. However, if you have severe anxiety or need a complex extraction, you may need oral sedation or general anesthesia.

What should I expect during a tooth extraction?

The type of extraction you need depends on the condition of the tooth. If the tooth rises above the gum line, your provider at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, may only need to loosen it and pull it out.

Impacted teeth, or teeth that break below the gum line, require dental surgery. Your provider cuts into the gum and may need to remove a little bone before extracting the tooth.

Your provider also cleans the socket and may insert a bone graft to strengthen the jaw where they removed the tooth.

A blood clot normally forms in the empty socket, effectively covering the bone while the area heals. If the clot doesn't form or breaks loose, your provider protects the bone with a dressing.

What happens after a tooth extraction?

Though you can return to your usual activities in a few days, it takes several weeks to heal the bone. After healing, you can replace a single tooth extraction with a dental implant. Otherwise, you may need to consider a bridge or dentures.

Don't wait to seek help for a severely damaged or decayed tooth. Call Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, or book an appointment online today.