Tooth Extractions

Our dentists in Queens, NY will carefully assess the tooth before recommending the most suitable treatments. Sometimes teeth can be saved and restored with dental fillings or crowns; an infected tooth can frequently be saved with root canal treatment. If we think there is a good chance that we can save your natural tooth, we will encourage you to pursue this treatment.When deciding if removal is the best option, we review your dental history and take digital dental x-rays to assess the condition of the tooth more fully. These x-rays show the extent of any damage to the tooth root, including infection and decay. Often, a damaged or infected tooth is painful, and removing it will relieve this discomfort and prevent further damage to the bone around the tooth.

A severely infected tooth that is beyond saving should be removed as soon as possible to prevent the infection from spreading and developing into a dental abscess. A dental abscess is a severe infection that, in the worst case, can become life-threatening when the bacteria spread beyond the tooth and tooth root.

We carefully monitor the position of wisdom teeth yet to erupt with regular digital dental x-rays. These x-rays show us the exact location of the tooth and its orientation, allowing us to determine if the wisdom tooth can erupt without affecting the adjacent teeth. When examining the condition of wisdom teeth, we often take a panoramic x-ray, showing your entire jaw and which helps us to assess the health of other teeth nearby, your sinuses, and your jawbone. We only recommend the removal of wisdom teeth when it is clear they cannot erupt without causing problems. Often an early wisdom teeth removal is preferable to help avoid future issues.

Because wisdom teeth are the last to emerge, usually during the late teens or early 20s, there is often a lack of room in the jaw. Consequently, these teeth try to emerge underneath the adjacent teeth or even erupt sideways through the gum. Some wisdom teeth managed to erupt partially but remain partly covered with gum tissue. A partially erupted wisdom tooth is harder to keep clean and is more likely to become infected and decayed. The infection and decay can affect the adjacent teeth.

When removing a tooth, we take every precaution to make sure the entire general dentistry procedure is as comfortable and as problem-free as possible. We thoroughly numb the tooth using a local anesthetic before we remove it. A straightforward tooth extraction where the tooth is visible is usually very quick. Once the tooth is numb, we use special tools to carefully loosen the tooth, allowing us to pull it out easily. When a tooth isn’t visible in the mouth or is only partially erupted, for example, wisdom teeth, removal is more complex. After numbing the area, we create a small opening in the jawbone to access the tooth. Often the tooth is sectioned or cut into smaller pieces, so removal is easier and more comfortable.

After tooth extraction, we either close the empty socket with stitches or leave it open to heal naturally. When an empty socket is left open, a blood clot quickly develops on the surface and protects the socket during healing.

If you require a more complicated surgery to remove a tooth, we may recommend sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry can also be useful when multiple teeth need extracting.

It’s perfectly normal to experience some discomfort after extraction. Common side effects include minor pain and discomfort, slight bleeding, and swelling. If you only have a single tooth removed, your recovery should be quite quick, and you will most likely be able to continue with normal activities the next day. If multiple teeth removed, you may need a little longer to recover fully.We will give you detailed information on how to manage your recovery, including advice on which foods to eat and taking painkillers to minimize discomfort and swelling. If needed, we will prescribe antibiotics. Some people find it helpful to use ice packs or moist heat during the first 48 hours after tooth extraction and which can help to reduce swelling and bruising. Using a warm salt water rinse can also aid healing.

It’s important to follow our instructions closely and especially for keeping the socket as clean as possible during healing. Avoid eating foods that could become stuck in the socket and avoid dislodging the blood clot protecting the socket. You mustn’t smoke while the socket heals because the sucking action could dislodge the blood clot. For the same reason, avoid using drinking straws.

Most tooth extractions are smooth and uneventful, and healing is relatively easy and quick. It’s rare for a tooth extraction infection to develop, and this only happens in a tiny percentage of cases. One possible complication is called dry socket and can develop in the empty socket left behind after tooth removal.

Usually, the empty socket is protected with a blood clot, but this can become dislodged. When this happens, the socket may become infected. Signs of an infection include increasing pain and discomfort, noticing a nasty taste, or developing bad breath. We can easily treat dry sockets, cleaning out the empty socket and placing a dressing to help it heal more quickly. However, it does slow down the overall healing process slightly. We perform many tooth extractions every year, and our dentists are highly skilled in this process. After tooth extraction, we are here to help you and to answer all your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information on how to look after your mouth after tooth extraction or are in any way concerned.