Dental Extraction Lomita Torrance Dental Office
While the prospect of tooth extractions can be scary, the actual procedure itself is not as bad as you might think. Advances in dental techniques and an increase in available anesthesia options will make your extraction more comfortable, and we can provide medication to help you with the soreness that can follow.
Tooth Extraction Torrance, Restoring Damaged Teeth
Whenever possible, the goal of restorative and periodontics dentistry is to conserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. However, there are some instances where the natural tooth or supporting bone is damaged beyond the point of being salvageable. In these cases, tooth extraction is the most reasonable and effective course of treatment. Lomita Torrance Dental Office offers tooth extraction in Torrance, CA.
At Lomita-Torrance Dental, we pursue all general dentistry options to help restore damaged teeth before we recommend an extraction. However, in some cases, removing a badly damaged or decayed tooth is the only option, or it’s in the best interest of your future oral health. For example, removing a severely decayed tooth can prevent the likelihood of a bacterial infection spreading to nearby teeth.
Rest assured that we perform dental extractions with the highest level of care at Lomita-Torrance Dental Office. Not only do we have ways to keep you comfortable and relaxed, but we use dedicated techniques to preserve as much healthy tissue and bone as possible during your extraction. In addition, we will discuss your options for tooth replacement before we initiate treatment. We realize that it is not good for your self-esteem nor your oral health to have a missing tooth for a long period of time. Our Torrance office offers a full range of options in restorative dentistry including bridges, dentures, partials and dental implants.
What Is Tooth Extraction/Dental Extraction?
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. There are many reasons why an extraction may be necessary. The most common reasons for tooth extraction is that the tooth has been damaged beyond the point of being restorable by severe tooth decay or advanced periodontal disease that has destroyed the bone that holds the tooth in. Tooth extractions are also frequently performed on patients who require more space in the mouth for orthodontic treatments.
Often, tooth extractions are performed on teeth that are impacted, which means they fail to erupt through the gums. This is commonly problematic with wisdom teeth.
What Are the Benefits of Tooth Extraction/Dental Extraction?
While dentists and periodontists always strive to preserve teeth whenever possible, there are many benefits to removing a tooth that is severely damaged or causing harm to the overall structure of the mouth. Teeth that are severely decayed or infected can lead to health problems in other areas. Bacteria from the infected tooth can enter the bloodstream, spreading infection to vital organs and raising one’s risk of developing heart disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Extracting teeth that are impacted also presents many health benefits. Impacted teeth can cause pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. They can also harm the surrounding teeth, nerves, and structures of the mouth. These symptoms and health concerns can be alleviated with extraction.
When Is Tooth Extraction Necessary?
While modern dentistry has come a long way in terms of repairing damaged teeth, not all teeth can be saved. Patients may need an extraction after a traumatic dental injury or when they have extreme decay, infection or impacted wisdom teeth. It is also common to need tooth removal to prepare for orthodontic treatment, especially when teeth are crowded. Lastly, a tooth extraction can be recommended for a pediatric patient if a baby tooth refuses to fall out on its own. At Lomita-Torrance Dental Office, we see patients of all ages. Regardless of the reason for your tooth extraction or your level of anxiety about the procedure, we promise to put you at ease. Our team will make your visit as painless as possible.
Many patients who experience tooth decay or damage, such as a tooth fracture or chip, can repair the tooth through a filling, root canal, the placement of a crown, or the bonding of the original tooth pieces. However, sometimes the damage to the tooth is so extensive or severe that the tooth must be removed to maintain the patient’s oral health. There are several reasons that a tooth may need to be removed, including:
- Extensive decay
- Periodontal disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis
- Trauma resulting in painful, abscessed, and/or loose teeth
- Tooth crowding or an extra tooth which prevents healthy adult teeth from growing properly
If you are visiting Lomita-Torrance Dental Office for dental extraction, we would appreciate it if you could bring the most current x-ray from your doctor showing the tooth or teeth that need to be removed and a list of any medications you are currently taking. You will undergo a thorough oral exam and possible additional x-rays of the tooth that must be removed, if necessary. Dr. Aminpour will create a plan for the tooth extraction, taking into consideration your age, the presence of gum disease, and your tooth’s relationship with other areas of your mouth such as your sinuses, nerves, and other teeth.
Why Do I Need an Extraction?
We would prefer to save your tooth whenever possible, but sometimes it becomes inevitable that a tooth needs to be removed to prevent damage to your gum tissue or your other teeth.
These are some of the most common reasons we need to pull teeth:
- Trauma or decay has caused the nerve of the tooth to die. If the tooth is not removed, it could cause infection and damage to the other teeth.
- The jaw is too small for the size of the teeth and crowding is a significant problem.
- Serious gum disease has caused the tooth to become loose.
- A tooth is fractured to the point where it cannot be repaired.
- A root canal has failed.
- Teeth are impacted (partially or completely covered by the gums) and posing an infection risk.
If an extraction looks like a possibility, we will discuss the situation with you to make sure you understand why we are recommending that the tooth or teeth come out.
Types of Dental Extractions
Extractions fall into two categories, simple and surgical. Most extractions are simple in nature and only require that the tooth be lifted with an instrument called an elevator and then gently removed using forceps (after your gums have been sufficiently numbed, of course).
In some cases, however, the process is more complex. When a tooth is impacted, a surgical extraction becomes necessary. This involves opening the gum and sometimes breaking the tooth in order to remove it. If you need a surgical extraction, you should plan to take a few days off following your extraction to allow time for rest and healing.
Lomita-Torrance dentist Dr. Bobby Aminpour is an oral surgery specialist and performs most of our surgical extractions.
How Is Tooth Extraction Performed?
At Lomita-Torrance Dental Office, most tooth extractions are performed in-office by our periodontist, Dr. Bobby Aminpour. The nature of your tooth extraction will depend on the severity of your case. In most cases, teeth that are visible above the gum line can be extracted using a simple extraction. Simple extractions are generally performed using local anesthesia and specially designed instruments. Once the area is suitably numbed, the tooth is removed, the extraction site may require a bone graft and possibly sutures.
Some tooth removals can be completed during a single visit, in which the evaluation and removal are performed at the same time. Most tooth removal procedures are completed using a local anesthetic to mitigate any pain, and our patients can return to work or school following their extraction. If you prefer to be sedated or go to sleep, it is mandatory that you attend a pre-operative appointment for evaluation and to discuss anesthesia options. This allows us the opportunity to review your medical history, determine what procedures are needed, and otherwise prepare you for your procedure(s).
Teeth that have failed to erupt properly or have broken off beneath the gum line may require surgical extraction. When this happens, incisions are made in the soft tissues covering the tooth to expose the tooth for extraction. Once the tooth is accessible, Dr. Bobby Aminpour will carefully remove it. Depending on the severity of your case, surgical extractions may require general anesthesia.
Tooth extractions, whether they are performed under local or general anesthesia, can cause some swelling and discomfort. Post operative discomfort will be managed with pain and anti-inflammatory medication. Patients generally feel no discomfort after a few days. Your dentist at Lomita-Torrance Dental will discuss post-extraction instructions with you during your initial consultation. We will also provide you with post-operative instructions, extra gauze, and a prescription for pain medication or antibiotics (if necessary) after your treatment is complete.
Recovering After Your Extraction
Allowing adequate time to rest and heal following your extraction will help to ensure a better outcome free from complications. For simple extractions, you can plan on a 24 to 48 hour recovery time. Surgical extractions may require 72 hours or more depending on the procedure.
We may prescribe medication to help relieve your discomfort and reduce swelling. Stocking your refrigerator and pantry with soft foods will make it easier for you to relax. Pudding, yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, applesauce, and cottage cheese are all easy to eat following an extraction. Don’t drink through a straw, however, the suction can dislodge the clot that is forming at the extraction site, causing bleeding and delaying the healing process.
We will give you specific instructions for caring for the extraction sites. If you have any concerns following your extraction or questions about the healing process, don’t hesitate to call our office.
How Can I Learn More About Tooth Extraction?
The talented dentists at Lomita-Torrance Dental will be happy to discuss Tooth Extractions in Torrance with you. Please feel free to call (424) 201-2885 or schedule an appointment online in our Torrance office.
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