Tooth Extractions in Caledonia

why would I need A tooth pulled?

There are several reasons you could need a tooth pulled, such as tooth decay, injury, overcrowding, impaction, or gum disease. The most common culprits are a tooth infection that cannot be restored with a root canal, severe dental trauma, and wisdom teeth that are not erupting properly. 

At Glen Valley Dentistry, we will always do everything in our power to save your teeth and will only resort to extractions as a last resort. The need for an extraction is rare and most often necessary in the third molars or due to extensive decay that has been left untreated for a long time. 

Being persistent about brushing and flossing your teeth will greatly reduce your risk of needing an extraction. If you believe you may need an extraction, contact us at Glen Valley Dentistry today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shaun Williams.

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Did you know…

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90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.

need an extraction?

Call: (616) 891-8931 Today!

How It Works: The Tooth Extraction Process

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Consultation

Dr. Williams will take digital x-rays to look at the position and condition of your teeth to determine if an extraction is necessary. If the tooth is impacted, it will require surgical removal.

Pain Relief & Sedation Options

A local anesthetic will be administered to numb your mouth before we begin. If you have dental anxiety and would like to be sedated, we also offer sedation to relax you.

Surgical Extraction

An incision will be made into the gums to gain access to the impacted tooth. If any bone is blocking the tooth, this will be cut. Then, your tooth will be sectioned into smaller fragments for easier removal. From there, your tooth is removed like a basic extraction.

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Basic Extraction

Using a dental elevator, we will sever the ligaments that are holding the tooth in place until the tooth is fully loosened in the socket. Then, we will use forceps to remove it

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Stop the Bleeding

Any incisions will be sutured shut and gauze will be placed in the socket for you to bite down on to stop the bleeding. By applying pressure, you encourage the formation of a blood clot.

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Aftercare

Dr. Williams will provide you with aftercare instructions that you will need to follow to promote proper healing and prevent Dry Socket. He will inform you how to reduce swelling and discomfort, and stop the bleeding. You will be given a list of things to avoid for the first 24 hours.

What To Expect From the Healing Process

In the first 24 hours, you will experience the most discomfort and restrictions. The socket will continue to bleed for up to 24 hours, but blood clotting should start to form during this time. You need to keep changing your gauze every few hours before they become soaked with blood. 

Replace gauze with fresh dampened ones or bite down on wet caffeinated tea bags which also encourage blood clotting. You should apply a cold compress to the area for about 15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling which will peak 2 to 3 days after the extraction. Taking anti-inflammatory pain medication and keeping your head elevated will also reduce swelling and discomfort.

You will need to stick to a soft food diet for at least a week. Avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods entirely. Do not smoke for at least 3 days because this interferes with healing and suction can cause Dry Socket. 

You will need to avoid all forms of suction for the first 24 hours so don’t drink out of a straw. After the first 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution a few times a day and begin to brush and floss like normal. Just try to avoid the extraction site and chew on the other side of your mouth. Within 48 hours of extraction, a blood clot should be firmly in place. By day 3, the soft tissue should begin to close around the extraction site and it should be fully closed within 7 to 10 days. Lingering tenderness and sensitivity are normal but should mostly resolve within 3 to 4 weeks.

types of tooth extractions

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basic tooth extractions

After numbing your tooth, we will loosen the tooth with a dental elevator. This severs the ligaments that attach it to the socket. Once the tooth has been loosened in the gums, forceps will be used to remove it. Sutures are typically not necessary.

wisdom tooth extractions

After administering local anesthesia and any necessary sedation, an incision will be made into the gums to reveal access to the tooth. From there, additional bone tissue may be removed near the tooth’s root. The tooth will then be sectioned, which means cut into smaller fragments for easier removal.

The tooth is removed in the same way as a basic tooth extraction in that it is loosened and then removed with forceps. We will then clean the site of the extraction to remove any remaining debris or tooth fragments and suture the gums shut.

Did you know…

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Kids and adults lose over five million teeth every year!

Need an appointment right away?

call (616) 891-8931 to book an aPpointment

Have questions about Tooth Extractions? Find answers here.

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does it hurt to get a tooth pulled?

No, an extraction is a completely painless procedure thanks to modern dental advancements like anesthetic and sedation. We will administer local anesthesia to numb your mouth and prevent the sensation of pain. 

For more complex surgical procedures or if you have dental anxiety, we may use additional sedation that will relax you. The most discomfort you will feel will come following the procedure, once the anesthetic has worn off. 

Even then, you should only feel minor tenderness or discomfort that can be treated with anti-inflammatory pain medication and cold compresses. The pain should subside with each passing day. If pain is severe or gets worse, you should contact us right away. Avoiding dislodging the blood clot is essential to avoid a painful condition called Dry Socket.

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should I replace my missing tooth?

Yes, you must replace a missing tooth as soon as possible, or you will quickly run into problems. Tooth loss causes jaw bone degradation which is irreversible. Once you suffer from bone loss, it’s not coming back and this can have serious consequences such as changes to your bite, changes to your facial structure, premature facial sagging, and inadequate support for dental implants and other restorations. 

This can happen pretty quickly after losing a tooth, so it’s important to act fast. If you don’t fill the gap in your teeth, your other teeth will also begin to shift, which can cause orthodontic problems that require treatment with braces. 

These teeth may also lean into the space where your old tooth used to be, which makes replacing the tooth difficult until you undergo orthodontics. There are many tooth restorations to choose from, such as dental implants, bridges, and dentures.

Did you know…

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35% of us are born without wisdom teeth.

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