Extractions & Wisdom Teeth Removal

Keeping extractions in house

Many dental practices refer tooth extraction patients to outside specialists. Not so at Smile Design Dentistry, where our dentists are trained and experienced in virtually any kind of dental procedure you need.

Many patients fear a dental extraction will be painful, but with today’s powerful local anesthetics, faster-healing surgical techniques, and the availability of moderate oral sedation, your Smile Design Dentistry dentist can efficiently and painlessly remove teeth.

In what circumstances is tooth removal recommended?

In an ideal world, you would keep your full set of adult teeth throughout your entire life. Unfortunately, circumstances occur that warrant the removal of a tooth by surgical means. For example, if a tooth becomes severely decayed or is fractured due to traumatic injury, restoration of the natural tooth may not be possible. In many cases, the mouth is not large enough to accommodate all the teeth, forcing teeth to “come in” at angles as they erupt and positioning teeth out of proper bite alignment. As part of orthodontic treatment, removal of a tooth may be needed. Perhaps, there is a tooth that cannot erupt and lies under the bone tissue, placing pressure on adjacent tooth roots. In the case of third molars (wisdom teeth), which are not needed for function, removal provides space for the other teeth and for more thorough cleaning of the back teeth. And, in many cases, a tooth or teeth have been lost already, and removal of a remaining tooth or teeth is recommended to wear a stable denture.

When you visit your local tooth extraction specialist at Smile Design Dentistry, you’ll receive the attentive, personalized care you deserve. We’ll sit down with you to explain your necessary treatment, and we’ll work hard to ensure that you’re comfortable throughout your procedure and during the hours and days following your surgery. Most patients only need an over-the-counter pain reliever for the first day or two.

Watch this video to learn more about why wisdom teeth are removed and why wisdom tooth extraction is easiest prior to age 25.