As you know, we often use fillings and crowns to help repair your smile and avoid the loss of the tooth. However, sometimes issues arise that mean removing a tooth is essential for preventing major complications for the rest of your smile. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX, dentist talks about how we use a tooth extraction to preserve your smile.
The Extraction Process
How do we actually remove your tooth? Well, we first need to take a close look at your smile. With digital technology, we captured detailed x-rays images, which lets us identify the tooth in question, and also the presence of nerve tissues and sinus cavities. Once we’ve planned the treatment, we administer a local numbing agent to the area around the tooth, and may also offer sedation to ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the entire process. Next, we gently remove the tooth with forceps and then suture the area closed. A friend or family member will bring you home, and will provide detailed aftercare instructions to facilitate a fast and comfortable healing period.
Wisdom Teeth and More
Now, why do we have to remove teeth? Well, we could do so to prevent wisdom tooth impaction. As we approach adulthood, up to four new teeth could erupt in the rear of our mouth. These teeth have little room, and could only partially erupt, causing a painful impaction. They could also cause dental misalignment, infection, and even damage portions of your smile. Extraction prevents this from happening! We could also take a tooth that is severely infected, protecting surrounding teeth. Removal also aids in orthodontic care sometimes, and addresses teeth loosened by gum disease.
What About the Gap in the Smile?
Wisdom teeth don’t need to be replaced, and you don’t need to replace a tooth taken out to help facilitate orthodontic care. But if you lose a tooth to decay, infection, injury, or gum disease, this leaves behind a gap. The gap could then cause misalignment, negative changes to your appearance, and complications for eating or speaking. To fill the gap and ensure a complete smile, we could design and secure a custom bridge, partial denture, and even a complete set of dentures. We also have advanced dental implants. If you have any questions about how we preserve your smile with tooth removal, or about tooth replacement for one or more missing teeth, then please contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO MMC DENTAL ABOUT ORAL SURGERY
Our team wants to help protect the health and function of your smile with safe and comfortable tooth removal. For more information on our approach to oral surgery, contact your Houston, TX, dentist, Dr. Chan, by calling 713-926-8896.