Tooth Extractions in Houston

What Are Tooth Extractions?

A tooth extraction, or pulling the tooth, describes a dental procedure where a dentist completely removes a tooth from its socket in the jaw. The dentist might recommend tooth extraction for severely decayed or damaged teeth beyond restoration. Sometimes teeth extraction is necessary to address crowded teeth before fitting braces or before undergoing chemotherapy.

The Tooth Extraction Process:
What to Expect

Anesthesia and Tooth Loosening
Your Houston dentist will inject local anesthesia (mostly lidocaine) into the gums to numb the region around the teeth and ensure a painless procedure. In cases of damaged teeth, they might cut away the gum tissue to expose the teeth and use forceps to grab and gently rock the tooth to loosen it.

The Extraction
Once loose, your dentist will use their forceps to gently remove the tooth from its forceps. Sometimes, they might have to use a bit of force if the tooth is deeply embedded in the jaw. You might feel a little pressure during the extraction but it’ll generally be pain-free.

Blood Clot Formation
Bleeding starts immediately after your tooth is removed from the socket. Your dentist will clean and disinfect the extraction site then place a cotton gauze on it and ask you to bite down on the gauze to promote blood clot formation and stop the bleeding.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Your dentist will guide you on how to take proper care of the extraction site for faster healing. This includes information on what food to eat and what to avoid to prevent dry socket. Dry socket occurs when you dislodge the clot in the extraction site leading to severe pain.

What to Expect

The Orthodontic Care Process

With orthodontic care, it is important to take dental impressions and x-rays to efficiently determine what type of treatment you will need. After placing the braces or starting your aligners, follow up appointments and maintenance are the most essential part of orthodontic care. We will go over a treatment plan with you and schedule any appointments so you can remain diligent about keeping a healthy smile.

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tooth extractions in Houston

Different Types of Tooth Extractions

Basic Extractions

Basic, or simple tooth extractions are extractions that involve removing visible teeth above the gumline. The dentist simply injects the anesthetic and uses forceps to remove the teeth from their socket. The process takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Your wisdom tooth is impacted if it doesn’t emerge from the gum properly after it grows. This is common in people with small jaws and insufficient space for all four wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth grow skewed or inside the gum causing pain, swelling, and discomfort. Impacted wisdom teeth extraction removes these teeth, providing instant relief.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom tooth extractions, as the name suggests, are tooth extractions for removing wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth are the four permanent teeth found at the back corners of your jaws. These teeth sit deeply inside their sockets and are harder to remove compared to other teeth. A surgical incision might be necessary to extract these teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know if I Need My Teeth Extracted?

You might need your tooth extracted if you experience severe pain in the tooth and jaw. You also may need an extraction for overcrowded and impacted teeth, or if you show symptoms of severe periodontal disease.