Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Having a tooth extracted can be scary, and intimidating. We take great care to give our patients a thorough exam and evaluation before any procedure and we will explain everything to you so you are comfortable before we start. Here are some of the questions our patients frequently ask. We hope they will help you too!
Q. Do I need to see a specialist?
A. Most tooth extractions can be performed by a general dentist in the office.
Q. Will I feel pain?
A. You may feel pressure when the tooth is being extracted and some minor discomfort at the injection site.
Q. How soon will I be able to eat/return to work?
A. Usually as soon as you leave the office, we recommend getting something cold like a milkshake (but don’t suck out of a straw). Most patients are back doing their normal activities the next day.
Q. If I don’t have the tooth pulled, will my tooth stop hurting on it’s own?
A. At times, the tooth can stop hurting but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still have it extracted. When it stops hurting your root nerve could be dead, but the decay continues to affect your other teeth and surrounding gum and bone tissue.
Q. Can I be sedated for my extraction?
A. Yes, Once seen for an exam, our office will coordinate with one of our associate offices to schedule you for I.V.Sedation at an additional cost. Most of our patients do not require sedation and the tooth can be pulled with local anesthetic.
Q. What about pain medication after my extraction?
A. Pain meds can be give only if the patient needs something stronger then Advil, Motrin or Tylenol.
Q. Why can’t my tooth be saved?
A. If your tooth is so damaged that not enough healthy tooth structure remains to restore, or if internal infection destroys too much of the tooth, then extracting and replacing the tooth may be the better option for your overall oral health.
Q. Will I need further treatment after tooth extraction?
A. Depending on the specific reason your tooth needs extraction, removing your tooth may be all that you need to remove the threat. For instance, removing a severely damaged tooth eliminates the threat that the tooth might pose to nearby oral tissues. Yet, if your tooth is severely infected or gum disease has left it without enough support, then you may need additional treatment to restore your oral health.
Q. Is it really necessary?
A. Tooth extraction is typically a last resort measure. For instance, if an impacted wisdom tooth threatens your smile, then there is really no option for fixing it, and extraction is the only way to save the rest of your teeth. If a tooth is severely damaged, or if its root has been damaged, then restoration might not be possible, either. However, teeth are highly-resilient, and the right dental restoration may be able to save the tooth, in which case it should not be extracted. We will evaluate all options with you before extracting the tooth.
Q. Will the extraction be simple or complicated?
A. A simple tooth extraction is when your dentist can simply (but carefully) grasp the tooth with a special tool, loosen it, and then gently remove the tooth from its socket. By contrast, complicated or surgical extraction is performed by exposing the tooth from underneath the jawbone and periodontal tissues to extract it safely, without damaging nearby tissues and bone structure. Impacted wisdom teeth and broken teeth roots often require surgical tooth extraction, though your exact procedure will depend on your specific needs and circumstances.
Q. Should I replace the tooth?
A. With the exception of wisdom teeth, most teeth will need to be replaced after they’ve been extracted. The loss of a tooth can cause other teeth to shift out of alignment and sustain more pressure than normal, leaving them more susceptible to damage and tooth decay. Before performing your tooth extraction, we will discuss your options for replacing the tooth after it’s been removed.
A. Most tooth extractions can be performed by a general dentist in the office.
Q. Will I feel pain?
A. You may feel pressure when the tooth is being extracted and some minor discomfort at the injection site.
Q. How soon will I be able to eat/return to work?
A. Usually as soon as you leave the office, we recommend getting something cold like a milkshake (but don’t suck out of a straw). Most patients are back doing their normal activities the next day.
Q. If I don’t have the tooth pulled, will my tooth stop hurting on it’s own?
A. At times, the tooth can stop hurting but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still have it extracted. When it stops hurting your root nerve could be dead, but the decay continues to affect your other teeth and surrounding gum and bone tissue.
Q. Can I be sedated for my extraction?
A. Yes, Once seen for an exam, our office will coordinate with one of our associate offices to schedule you for I.V.Sedation at an additional cost. Most of our patients do not require sedation and the tooth can be pulled with local anesthetic.
Q. What about pain medication after my extraction?
A. Pain meds can be give only if the patient needs something stronger then Advil, Motrin or Tylenol.
Q. Why can’t my tooth be saved?
A. If your tooth is so damaged that not enough healthy tooth structure remains to restore, or if internal infection destroys too much of the tooth, then extracting and replacing the tooth may be the better option for your overall oral health.
Q. Will I need further treatment after tooth extraction?
A. Depending on the specific reason your tooth needs extraction, removing your tooth may be all that you need to remove the threat. For instance, removing a severely damaged tooth eliminates the threat that the tooth might pose to nearby oral tissues. Yet, if your tooth is severely infected or gum disease has left it without enough support, then you may need additional treatment to restore your oral health.
Q. Is it really necessary?
A. Tooth extraction is typically a last resort measure. For instance, if an impacted wisdom tooth threatens your smile, then there is really no option for fixing it, and extraction is the only way to save the rest of your teeth. If a tooth is severely damaged, or if its root has been damaged, then restoration might not be possible, either. However, teeth are highly-resilient, and the right dental restoration may be able to save the tooth, in which case it should not be extracted. We will evaluate all options with you before extracting the tooth.
Q. Will the extraction be simple or complicated?
A. A simple tooth extraction is when your dentist can simply (but carefully) grasp the tooth with a special tool, loosen it, and then gently remove the tooth from its socket. By contrast, complicated or surgical extraction is performed by exposing the tooth from underneath the jawbone and periodontal tissues to extract it safely, without damaging nearby tissues and bone structure. Impacted wisdom teeth and broken teeth roots often require surgical tooth extraction, though your exact procedure will depend on your specific needs and circumstances.
Q. Should I replace the tooth?
A. With the exception of wisdom teeth, most teeth will need to be replaced after they’ve been extracted. The loss of a tooth can cause other teeth to shift out of alignment and sustain more pressure than normal, leaving them more susceptible to damage and tooth decay. Before performing your tooth extraction, we will discuss your options for replacing the tooth after it’s been removed.
If you still have questions, we are available to take your call. We are open for walk-in and preset appointments. Simply call or visit our office in Spring Hill!
