Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extractions In Frederick, MD

Tooth extraction is the complete removal of a tooth from its socket. It’s often needed in cases where the tooth is too damaged to save, or when existing teeth are blocking other teeth from erupting. The only way to know for sure if a tooth needs to be extracted is to have a thorough exam with your Frederick dentist.

If you find out that you need an extraction, don’t put it off! Trying to avoid a tooth extraction can lead to pain, swelling, and infection--but once your appointment is over, your pain will be relieved and your dental health greatly improved. Visit PearlFection Dentistry in Frederick, MD and let an extraction improve your life!

Reasons to Consider Tooth Extraction

• Extensive damage: When fillings, root canals, and crowns aren’t enough to save a tooth, it will likely need to be extracted and then replaced with a prosthetic tooth. Children may need baby teeth extracted if they suffer from extensive decay early in life.
• Risk of infection: Anyone with a weakened immune system is at higher risk for tooth decay and gum disease, and may need to have teeth extracted to prevent infection from spreading throughout the body. People at high risk of infection include cancer patients and those who have had organ transplants.
• Impacted teeth: An impacted tooth is one that is blocked from pushing through the gum, either by other teeth or by excessive soft tissue. This can lead to inflammation and jaw pain, as well as an increased risk of gum disease and decay in the surrounding areas. Impacted teeth are frequently candidates for extraction to prevent complications.
• Preparing for orthodontics: Sometimes there’s simply not enough room in the arch for all the teeth to sit comfortably. In these cases, some teeth may need to be extracted to solve the crowding problem. Crowding can also cause an adult tooth to erupt in the wrong place, failing to push out the baby tooth. The baby tooth must be removed before the crowding can be corrected with orthodontics.
• Loose teeth due to periodontal (gum) disease: When the gums are infected, the underlying bone can begin to break down and cause teeth to become loose. Sometimes this process can be reversed with bone grafting, but if this isn’t an option for your health condition, then extraction may be necessary.

Wisdom Tooth Removal Frederick, MD

The wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars to come in. They will usually appear around someone’s late teens or early twenties. While there are some people whose wisdom teeth are perfectly healthy and won’t cause issues for their smile, most people will have to have their wisdom teeth extracted.

When Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

One good rule of thumb is that it’s easier to remove wisdom teeth at a younger age when the roots of the wisdom teeth haven’t completely formed, the bone surrounding the teeth is softer and there is less chance of damaging nerves. This means that you should continue to see your Frederick, MD dentist every six months for routine cleanings and exams to check the progress of your wisdom teeth. We recommend that everyone have their wisdom teeth extracted by the age of 25.

Why Would I Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Some people may never even notice any pain or discomfort when their wisdom teeth come in, so they may wonder why these teeth need to be extracted in the first place. However, wisdom teeth can become impacted or get stuck. If you or your teen’s mouth is too small to make room for these molars, they could even grow in at an angle. This can ultimately cause damage to neighboring teeth. If you wait to have wisdom teeth removed, complications can occur including fractured teeth, severe bleeding, and numbness.

So, when might our Frederick, MD dentist recommend a wisdom tooth extraction?

• If the wisdom tooth is causing pain, discomfort, or other problems
• If the X-rays show future complications
• If the wisdom teeth are causing damage to other teeth
• If the teeth are causing damage to the jaw (this often occurs when cysts form around the wisdom tooth)
• If they cause sinus-related problems
• If they cause gum irritation and inflammation
• If they are causing infections
• If they are causing cavities
• If the wisdom teeth could impact the alignment of your teeth (this can be particularly disheartening for a teen who has already had braces to correct his or her smile)

Wisdom Teeth Removal Process

Before your wisdom teeth are removed, we will administer a local anesthesia to numb the area. In some cases, sedation dentistry will also be used to help relax the patient during their procedure. To remove the wisdom teeth, we will open up the gums and remove the bone that covers the wisdom tooth. Then we will cut the tooth into pieces to make it easier to remove. If the wisdom teeth have fully erupted, then only a simple extraction is required (in which the teeth are pulled using forceps).

Once the teeth are removed we will stitch up the gums. In many cases, these stitches will dissolve over time. After the stitches have been placed, we will place a gauze pad over the areas to stop bleeding.

The recovery period for a wisdom tooth extraction is fairly fast, lasting only a couple of days. We will prescribe painkillers to take as needed for discomfort or pain. You will also need to follow a soft-food diet. You can slowly reintroduce more solid foods to your diet as your mouth begins to heal. We will provide you with a list of do’s and don’ts after your wisdom tooth surgery.

Do you have impacted teeth, damage to existing dental work, or other oral health concerns? Schedule a consultation with the experts at PearlFection Dentistry to see if extraction is the best solution to your problem. Call our Frederick, MD office today at (301) 663-5550 .

For our other location in Urbana, MD, call (301) 831-8303 .