Most people would probably agree that losing an adult tooth should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately, there are some reasons why people need a tooth extraction, such as after an injury, deep tooth decay, or impacted wisdom teeth. Learn more about how East Hills Dental Associates in Roslyn Heights, NY prevents tooth extraction and only recommends it as a last resort.
Preventing Tooth Extractions
In many cases, tooth extraction is a last resort. At East Hills Dental Associates, we take care to make sure we provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems. We want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. We even offer high quality dental crowns to hold the tooth together, but there are some cases when there are no other options except extraction.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may be removed. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been extremely damaged from trauma, the tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also taken out when your teeth are overcrowded and causing problems with your day-to-day life, such as when wisdom teeth become impacted.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion. This is when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can be the cause of many oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. An even bite that meets where it’s supposed to help to even out the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This lessens the chance of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth typically erupt in the late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and can be more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also get impacted in your jaw. This means that it’s at an odd angle and is stuck mostly under the gums, causing problems with your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time or in pairs through a surgical procedure. You’ll be sedated and the wisdom teeth will be removed before they cause too many problems.
Tooth Extraction Procedure in Roslyn Heights, NY
We can handle most tooth extractions in our Roslyn Heights, NY dental office. For a simple tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being removed. If you suffer from dental fear, we offer sedation dentistry options to make sure you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
When you’re numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be slowly severed. The tooth is gently rocked back and forth in the socket to remove the actual tooth. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the cavity and also helps to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Contact East Hills Dental Associates for an appointment online or call us at (516) 253-6873.