When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary

Franklin, TN

As a family dentist in Franklin, TN, 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 necessary. Dr. Blourchian is extremely conservative and will make every effort to save your tooth, if possible. There are times, however, when a tooth is terminal or beyond saving and extraction is the only solution. We do recommend visiting our dental office located at 155 Covey Dr #300 Franklin, TN 37067 for an extraction.

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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 (615) 591-4490 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.

Your wisdom teeth are impacted.

One of the most common reasons patients ask, "When is a tooth extraction necessary?" is because their child is complaining of discomfort due to developing wisdom teeth. At New Image Dentistry, 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. More often than not, wisdom teeth seldom have enough space in the mouth to erupt without incident. If the wisdom teeth grow in impacted or sideways, space is oftentimes created for food to become trapped, and this area often becomes infected which can lead to infection. In this way, wisdom teeth can pose a health risk. As a cosmetic dentistry office, we can remove problematic wisdom teeth and keep you or your child’s mouth healthy.

The Extraction Process

While the first question we hear is, "When is a tooth extraction necessary?", the second is always about the process. We understand that our patients are often intimidated by the prospect of needing to have a tooth extracted. This is a process that most people grow up fearing, in part because of popular movies and television conveying an extraction as something truly horrible. The good news is that we can complete the extraction gently, quickly, and while keeping you comfortable. When looking for a "dentist near me" to complete an extraction, be sure to visit one who offers sedation. We do and we will use it to help you relax. Before we get started, you will be sedated and you will receive medication to numb the area.

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.

The Recovery Process After a Tooth Extraction

At New Image Dentistry, we inform patients that they will be sore for several days and experience swelling. This is perfectly normal and can be controlled by taking ibuprofen and placing a cold compress or icepack on your face in the area where the tooth was extracted. We encourage our patients to do so for 15 minutes at a time. In preparation for your tooth extraction, you should buy plenty of JELL-O, yogurt, applesauce, and anything else you can eat without actually needing to chew. Within a couple of days, you should be able to add solids back into your diet but will need to be cautious until the area has healed completely.