If your general dentist referred you to our office for a tooth extraction, here’s what you can expect.

As with any surgery, your dentist will first numb the area with local anesthetic. In most cases, your dentist will simply loosen the gum tissues surrounding the tooth with a dental instrument called an elevator. Some cases require surgical cuts such as when a tooth breaks or with an impacted tooth. Once the tooth is exposed enough, your dentist will use dental forceps to grab the tooth and pull it out.

However, sometimes a tooth extraction isn’t so simple. If your dentist encounters a stubborn tooth, it might be best for it to be taken out in pieces. Therefore, your dentist will use a bur in a high speed hand piece to separate the tooth into fragments for easier removal.

After the tooth is extracted, naturally, you’ll be left with a deep socket. Depending on your situation, your dentist will send you on your way with a wet piece of gauze to bite on for the next 20 to 30 minutes until a blood clot forms. Or he may start implantology procedures that lead to eventual placement of a dental implant. The implant can be placed immediately if enough bone is present, or a bone graft can be placed to prepare the site for placement of an implant in 4 to 6 months. 

Schedule your appointment for a tooth extraction by calling us at 414-259-0660.