While our focus at RSN Dental PC is on preventative care, we perform tooth extractions on a regular basis. We are always looking for ways to avoid an extraction by keeping your oral health in good shape. We will clean your teeth on a regular basis, discuss a healthy diet with you, and treat gum disease, cavities, and infections to the best of our abilities; in order to keep your teeth healthy and intact. As a general dentist, we will also work to restore your tooth if it has been damaged – all of which can help you to maintain your natural teeth for years to come. If you are experiencing discomfort or your tooth is in need of repair, we invite you to call our dental office at (347) 802-8371 to schedule an appointment. During your examination, we will let you know if your tooth can be saved or if a tooth extraction is the best option for preventing the spread of infection and eliminating your discomfort. In our dentist office, we will take the steps necessary to ensure your comfort so that regardless of which treatment option you select, you will feel relaxed during the process.
The process of having a tooth extraction
If you do need to have a tooth extraction, there are several ways that we can go about the procedure. First, we will numb the area of your mouth so that you do not feel any direct discomfort. You will feel pressure during the procedure but otherwise remain relaxed and comfortable. If your tooth has matured and broken through the gums, we can use dental tools to wiggle the tooth and pull it out of the socket. Afterward, the area will be thoroughly cleaned, and gauze will be used to stop the bleeding while you recover. If your tooth is impacted or still below the surface, as is common with wisdom teeth, oral surgery may be necessary for removing it. When completing this procedure in our dental office, we typically create an incision in the gums so that there is a flap. The flap is gently lifted so that we have access to the impacted tooth. In many cases, we can wiggle the tooth and lift it out of the socket. However, if there is bone or tissue on top of the tooth, it will need to be cut away first. If the tooth is particularly stubborn and not budging, we might need to break it into several pieces and remove it that way. Once the tooth has been removed from the socket, the area will be thoroughly cleaned before the flap is placed back down and sutured in place. Gauze is then used to stop the bleeding.
If your tooth has grown in straight
We can typically grasp the tooth, wiggle it, and gently but quickly pull it out. This process happens quickly, and afterward, we will clean the area and place gauze there to stop the bleeding.
If your tooth is impacted
As a cosmetic dentist, we remove impacted teeth as a matter of course. This process, however, is far more complicated because an impacted tooth cannot be pulled. Instead, we have to cut open the gum tissue that surrounds the tooth so we can fully access it. In some cases, other bone or tissue has to be cut away so we have full access to the tooth and can pull it out. If necessary, we may need to pull it out one piece at a time. Afterward, we will clean the area, replace the gum flap, place sutures if necessary, and treat it with gauze.
How to care for your mouth after a tooth extraction
At RSN Dental PC, we perform a tooth extraction in the least invasive manner possible to shorten the recovery time. Most of our patients will recover in the office for around an hour while we make sure that the bleeding has sufficiently slowed down, and any anesthesia is wearing off. We typically recommend having someone pick you up after having a tooth extraction. At home, you will want to rest and taking a nap is highly recommended. Be sure to drink plenty of water but avoid drinking anything that is too hot or too cold as this could lead to sensitivity for the first couple of days. We also recommend avoiding the use of a straw, for the first few days, as the suction could cause the affected area to start bleeding. How the procedure was completed will influence how long it takes to recover but, in general, the swelling will go down after a few days. In our family dentist office, we recommend taking ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling and to use an ice pack or cold compress for 15 minutes at a time. During your recovery, you should eat foods that are high in nutrition but soft. Drinking a smoothie with vegetables, fruit, yogurt, and protein powder is an excellent way to keep your nutrition levels up without needing to bite down on anything. As you add foods back in, be sure to start with things that are soft like noodles and gradually work your way up to a full diet. While caring for your mouth after a tooth extraction, you also need to keep your mouth as clean as possible. Brush your surrounding teeth like normal while carefully avoiding the surgical site. You can also rinse with water and baking soda or an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the risk of an infection developing. We may want to see you for a follow-up appointment, as well.
Staten Island Tooth Extraction
Signs that you might need a tooth extraction
At RSN Dental PC, we practice preventative care and can help in an emergency situation. If you feel intense discomfort in your tooth or your jaw, give us a call since this could be a sign of a dental abscess or severe infection. Simultaneously, if it hurts when you bite down or chew this can also be an indication of a cavity or infection. Other signs like puss or bleeding indicate that you should call (347) 802-8371 and schedule an appointment with our family dentistry office right away.
What you should know about wisdom teeth removal
If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may need to have them removed. We invite you to schedule an appointment with our dentist office so that we can examine your teeth and take X-rays to determine whether or not you should keep your wisdom teeth. Not everyone needs to have them out, so it depends on how much room you have and whether they are growing in straight or impacted. Also, if you have worn braces, they might need to be removed to prevent them pushing the other teeth forward. The process of removing wisdom teeth is roughly the same as any other tooth with the exception of when and why we perform the procedure. At RSN Dental PC, we typically recommend wisdom teeth removal in the teenage years. General extractions are more common as people age and have a tooth that needs to be removed due to a severe infection or significant damage. To find out whether or not you should keep your wisdom teeth, call (347) 802-8371 to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Vlad Shikhmanter.
When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary
As a family dentist in Staten Island, NY, we are regularly asked, "When is a tooth extraction necessary?" This is an understandable question because no one wants to have a tooth pulled unless it is absolutely beneficial. We are not interested in extracting teeth unless absolutely necessary. In fact, if you damage a tooth, our preferred method of treatment is to restore it using dental veneers or dental crowns. There are times, however, where we do recommend visiting our dental office located at 3589 Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312 for an extraction.
- You were in an accident: We can treat patients who have gotten into an accident and need to have immediate dental work completed. In some cases, dental damage is only part of the problem and immediate solutions are necessary. If possible, we will restore the tooth using dental bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns. However, if the problem is urgent, a tooth extraction may be necessary. If you do need an emergency dentist, call (347) 802-8371 to schedule an appointment.
- An infection has spread: If you have a bad dental infection, visit a dental office as soon as possible. It will be obvious if the infection has spread since you will experience intense discomfort that will make it difficult to bite down, chew, or even carry on with daily activities. We recommend coming in at the first sign of a toothache so we can treat the infection before it reaches the point of being severe. However, if you have delayed an appointment and are now in intense pain, you may need a tooth extraction just to get rid of the infection quickly. While not ideal, we can eliminate the source of the problem, prescribe you antibiotics, and then replace the tooth or teeth in the future with dental crowns and bridges or dental implants.
- The cost to restore the tooth is too great: We accept most insurance plans and can also discuss various payment options with you. However, we also realize that sometimes restorative dental work can be cost prohibitive. This is not an inexpensive teeth whitening procedure. Instead, removing an infection can require a full root canal and restoration afterward. If you are in a situation where you cannot afford a root canal, you may want to consider a tooth extraction and then replace the tooth later on when you have the funds to do so. This will address the immediate problem, which is to remove the infection.
- Your wisdom teeth are impacted: One of the most common reasons parents ask, "When is a tooth extraction necessary?" is because their child is developing wisdom teeth. At RSN Dental PC, we do not always extract wisdom teeth. If there is enough room in the mouth for this third set of molars and they are growing in straight, they may be able to remain in the mouth. However, it does not work this way for most people. In fact, it is more common for our patients to visit our dental practice complaining that their wisdom teeth hurt. This can happen when they grow in impacted. The actual growth of them can cause discomfort and push other teeth forward (inconvenient if you or your child has had braces). As they grow in impacted or sideways, space will be created for food to become trapped, and this area often becomes infected. In this way, wisdom teeth can pose a health risk. As a cosmetic dentistry office, we can remove them.
Schedule an Appointment
To find out if you need a tooth extraction, call (347) 802-8371 and schedule an appointment with RSN Dental PC. We will be happy to answer any questions you have, schedule your procedure, and replace your teeth with dental implants or dental crowns and bridges once the extraction has been completed.