Teeth Extractions

At North Orange Family Dentistry, we know there can be a lot of anxiety with having a tooth pulled. Before the tooth removal, Dr. Bogan will go over all your options and answer any questions you have. In fact, here are some answers to some of the questions he gets most often.

How much will I feel during the tooth extraction?
Of course before we start working on the tooth to be extracted we'll numb you thoroughly. So although you might feel quite a bit of pressure, you shouldn't feel any pain during the extraction. After the procedure Dr. Bogan may prescribe some pain medication if he feels you will need it over the next few days.

Isn't there any other alternative?
Dr. Bogan is a big fan of preserving healthy natural teeth whenever possible. So if he thinks there's a chance he can save your tooth by another procedure such as performing a root canal, he'll always let you know. And he'll be happy to spend time talking about the costs, potential risks, and next steps for any procedure.

What will I do with the gap in my teeth?
In most cases, Dr. Bogan recommends replacing missing teeth. It's better for chewing, for teeth alignment, and for the way patients feel about their smiles. There are a few different ways to do this. Depending on the situation he could give you a bridge or full or partial dentures. Some patients will be candidates for dental implants. These prosthetic teeth are firmly anchored right into your jaw so they function and look just like real teeth.

How do I take care of the hole the tooth was removed from?
It's important to baby the area of your tooth extraction to avoid infection and a painful condition called dry socket. For a week following the procedure avoid eating food that requires a lot of heavy chewing or that has jagged edges. At the same time you don't want to drink through a straw or suck on hard candy because the suction can tear the fragile scab. Smoking is also a significant risk factor. If you take extra care for about a week, you should be able to eat whatever you want.

If you are having even intermitten toothaches, it's important to come in as soon as possible to minimize the damage of any infection. We'll be as gentle as we can and work hard to fix your problems the way that's right for you. Request an appointment today.