Tooth Extractions – Salinas, CA
Say Goodbye to Teeth That Are Beyond Saving
Ideally, you should be able to keep all of your natural teeth for the rest of your life. Sadly, that may not always be possible; sometimes removing a tooth is the only viable choice for protecting your oral health. The good news is that Dr. Hajdari and Dr. Chehrehsa are here to make sure that your tooth extraction is as comfortable as possible. Please call us if you have a tooth that you think might need to be taken out.
Why Choose Blanco Circle Dental Care for Tooth Extractions?
- Multiple In-House Dentists and Specialists
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments
- Highly Compassionate Dental Team
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
We prefer saving teeth whenever we can, but there are several situations where we may not have any choice other than to recommend an extraction. Most notably, if a tooth is severely damaged to the point where repairing it is impossible, removing it will likely be the only option left. Extractions can also be required for teeth with advanced infections that could spread and affect the other teeth if nothing is done.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
Step one is to examine your tooth to see just how severe the problem is. Once we rule out other treatment methods and have confirmed that removing your tooth is the best option, we can determine whether a simple extraction or a surgical extraction is necessary.
A simple extraction is where forceps are used to rock the tooth back and forth, loosening it until it is separated from the gums. We will be very gentle during this procedure, and we will always numb your mouth beforehand to help you stay comfortable.
However, simple extractions can only be performed on fully erupted teeth. If the tooth hasn’t completely emerged from beneath the gums (or if it has broken off at the gumline), surgery may be needed to remove it. To minimize the amount of bone lost during the surgical extraction process, it may be necessary to divide the tooth into pieces that can be taken out one at a time.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Once you have had a tooth taken out, you should avoid spitting, drinking through a straw, or directly brushing the extraction site for at least 24 hours. This is to protect the blood clot that will form after the procedure. It’s important to ensure that the blood clot remains in place if you want to avoid a dry socket.
It will take a while for your mouth to fully recover after a tooth extraction. During this time, you should make a point of only eating soft or liquid foods, and you should make sure that your head stays elevated whenever you go to bed. To keep your discomfort under control, you can take ibuprofen or another type of over-the-counter painkiller.