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Extraction
is the complete removal of a primary or a permanent tooth. An
Extraction can be surgical or non-surgical. This depends on the
difficulty of the extraction and whether or not the tooth is impacted
or erupted, and whether it has straight or curved roots.
An Extraction
may be done by our office or may be referred to an Oral Surgeon
(someone who specializes in difficult or surgical extractions).
No one looks forward to an extraction, but modern anesthesia
will help keep your child comfortable throughout the procedure.
Reasons for
an extraction are:
- A primary
("baby") tooth may be in the way of normal eruption
of a permanent tooth.
- An abscessed
tooth that cannot be saved.
- A tooth
with decay too deep to save the tooth.
- A tooth
that has broken at the gum line
and cannot be saved.
- Impacted
tooth (typically a "Wisdom Tooth")
- Some Orthodontic
cases require that one or more teeth be extracted.
- Advanced
Gum Disease.
Nothing
is better than a healthy set of teeth, and many advances in dentistry
allow us to save teeth that we could not previously, but sometimes
an extraction is necessary.
When
an extraction is performed, it is important to put something in
the place of the missing tooth or teeth. If the space is just
left open, the adjacent teeth may shift and cause complications.
When a child prematurely loses a primary tooth, they may need
a space maintainer. The loss
of a permanent tooth may call for a bridge or implant.
Post
Operative Instructions
This
form is in PDF format. Click on the link to download the form.
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  Following
Dental Surgery
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