Despite every effort to save a tooth, sometimes it just can’t be done and the tooth needs extraction to help you avoid oral health complications. When you have a diseased, decayed, or damaged tooth, turn to Anand Shah, DMD, of Celebrity Smiles in West Melbourne, Florida. He provides safe and expert tooth extractions to men and women when necessary. Call the office to make an appointment to receive the highest quality dental care.

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Why would I need a tooth extraction?

Although adult teeth are supposed to last a lifetime, wear-and-tear, disease, and injury get in the way. Sometimes a tooth extraction is the only course of action to preserve your overall oral health.

Specific reasons you might need a tooth extraction include:

  • Extra or crowded teeth
  • No room for third molars (wisdom teeth)
  • Risk of infection from an unsuccessful root canal
  • Severe gum disease
  • Risk of infection during an organ transplant or chemotherapy

Dr. Shah explores all options for your troubled tooth (or teeth) and does his best to avoid extraction whenever possible.

What should I expect from an extraction procedure?

Dr. Shah offers two types of extraction:

Simple extractions

A simple extraction is performed on teeth that have erupted and are still intact. Dr. Shah uses a small tool called an elevator to loosen the tooth, and he then removes it using dental forceps.

Surgical extraction

If you have a tooth that’s broken off at the surface or has not come through your gums, you may need a surgical extraction. In these cases, Dr. Shah makes a small incision in your gum line to access the tooth. He may need to break up the tooth to help extract it.

Before either type of extraction, Dr. Shah administers a local anesthetic to numb your mouth. If you’re having multiple teeth removed, such as with wisdom teeth removal, you may also undergo sedation, so you sleep through the procedure.

What should I expect during healing from a tooth extraction?

How you heal from a tooth extraction depends on the extent of your procedure, your overall health, and how many teeth were removed. The initial healing period lasts about one to two weeks. During this time, new bone and gum tissue form and fill in the spaces where your teeth were. During this period, chewing and dental hygiene can be a challenge. You receive a thorough post-extraction treatment plan so you know how to appropriately care for your extraction site and avoid complications.

If you have infected, decayed, or damaged teeth that need extraction, make an appointment at Celebrity Smiles by calling the office today.