At Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we make every effort to avoid having to extract a tooth. However, there are certain situations where extraction is deemed necessary to ensure the long-term health and function of your smile. Trauma, severe infection, damage, or overcrowding can be common reasons for recommending a tooth extraction.
Raleigh, North Carolina dentist Dr. Emily Ann Reece offers tooth extraction treatment to her patients at Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. It is a general dentistry procedure that Dr. Reece offers. She ensures that her patients feel comfortable and relaxed during all dental treatments.
Simple Tooth Extractions
Simple tooth extraction can be completed in one visit to our Raleigh, NC dental office. Dr. Reece will use a local anesthetic for your comfort. Before removing the tooth, she will create space between the surrounding gum tissue and the tooth root.
Using specialized dental tools and a gentle rocking motion, Dr. Reece will pull the tooth from the socket. Finally, Dr. Reece will thoroughly clean the area and place gauze in the empty socket to stop bleeding and reduce the risk of infection to the area.
Do I Need a Tooth Extraction?
There are many different reasons you may need to have a tooth extracted. The first is having a tooth that’s severely decayed or damaged. While we do our best to preserve your natural tooth, sometimes it needs to be removed for your overall oral health. If the tooth is damaged or decayed beyond what a root canal or dental crown can heal. We want to eliminate any spread of decay or further injury to your mouth.
Sometimes, overcrowding is a severe issue. There are many treatments for overcrowding, including orthodontic appliances, Invisalign, or traditional metal braces. But when your mouth and teeth are fully developed, it becomes a bit more difficult to treat overcrowding problems. In this instance, we may recommend tooth extraction for your comfort and function.
As people reach their late teens and early twenties, wisdom teeth may erupt. Our mouths often don’t have enough room for this extra set of molars. They can cause teeth to overcrowd and overlap, changing your smile and bite. We’ll keep an eye on your wisdom teeth as they develop and recommend wisdom teeth removal if we believe they’ll cause problems with your smile.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Many patients require a wisdom tooth extraction sometime in their late-teens to early-20’s. At this time, the wisdom teeth are emerging but not completely formed. Wisdom teeth may cause pain if they are coming into a small space or at an improper angle. However, for many patients, when the wisdom teeth erupt, there is enough space for them to grow.
Healthy wisdom teeth do not need to be extracted. But because they are positioned in the back of the jaw, they can be difficult to clean. This can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Depending on where your wisdom teeth erupt, we can treat the gums to maintain the health of the teeth. However, if you have painful impactions, decay, or gum problems, the wisdom teeth will need to be removed.
If you have impacted wisdom teeth or severely damaged or infected teeth, call 919.646.6294 for quality dental care. You may also schedule a consultation with Dr. Reece. She will review your treatment options and create a plan that is tailored to your dental needs.