A tooth that hurts when you bite down or keeps you up at night is extremely frustrating. Typically, this type of pain indicates your tooth is infected, and your Gretna dentist needs to treat the tooth as soon as possible to keep the infection from spreading. Sometimes, an infected tooth needs to be removed, so how can your dentist ensure your comfort during an extraction? Keep reading to learn more.
The Art of Precise Tooth Extractions
Whether you have wisdom teeth that are causing problems or an infected tooth that needs to be removed, we strive to keep you comfortable and cause minimal trauma to your gums and jawbone. In our dental office, extractions fall into the following categories:
Routine extractions – When your tooth has only one root, or you are experiencing bone loss, we can generally perform a routine dental extraction. After we numb the area, we can gently loosen the tooth and remove it in one piece.
Surgical extractions – When an extraction isn’t routine, we categorize it as a surgical extraction. This means we either have to section the tooth into pieces and remove each piece separately or remove a small amount of bone when we extract the tooth.
Typically, we perform surgical extractions under the following circumstances:
- A tooth that is broken at the gumline
- A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy
- A tooth with multiple roots
- A tooth with strong bone around it
After a surgical extraction, we put some medication on the extraction site and stitch the area to help the healing process.
Caring for the Extraction Site
After your tooth extraction, follow these guidelines for faster healing:
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers to help with discomfort.
- Avoid drinking from a straw.
- Avoid smoking.
- Eat soft foods such as pudding or oatmeal.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
Do You Need Tooth Extractions in Gretna, LA?
If you or a loved one would like to talk to our dental team about tooth extractions, dental bonding, or any of our other services, we’re ready to take your call! At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, our goal is to help you love your smile. You can reach us at (504) 392-5104 to schedule an appointment.