Do you have a broken tooth? Is a tooth hurting? Despite our best efforts, sometimes teeth are unable to be saved and repaired. When that happens, the best option is to remove the tooth and prepare the site for a dental implant.
At Canyon Dental, your dentist in Orem, Utah, Dr. Bowen has extensive experience in extractions and oral surgery. If you need to have a tooth extracted, Canyon Dental is the office for you. If you are anxious or would like to be more comfortable, Dr. Bowen offers both IV and Oral Sedation.
As decay gets larger in a tooth, it eventually gets to the nerve, which is what causes pain in teeth. The nerve becomes infected from the bacteria in the decay, and eventually dies. The now-dead nerve swells, and since teeth are rigid and have no place for the swelling to go, pressure builds up inside and causes tooth pain. Extracting the tooth will eliminate the source of the pain and help you heal.
The procedure for an extraction begins by using topical numbing gel and a local anesthetic to numb your tooth. If a tooth is heavily infected, it may require antibiotics in conjunction with an extraction to control the infection. During the procedure, you will not feel any pain or sharpness, but you will feel pressure. Pressure is a sensation that we are unable to eliminate with local anesthetic.
When your tooth is numb, Dr. Bowen uses specialized oral surgery instruments. He will lightly wiggle on the tooth to loosen it. For many teeth, this will be sufficient. For others, a specialized oral surgery drill will be required to section the tooth into pieces, facilitating removal. This is often a more gentle, nicer approach to removing a tooth.
After the tooth has been removed, the site will be cleaned. If you are preparing for a dental implant, a bone graft will be placed at this time to increase the success of your implant. A bone graft takes approximately 3-4 more to heal completely, and at that time, you will be ready for an implant.
Call us at (801) 224-6051 for your appointment today!
For extraction or oral surgery aftercare instructions, click here.