Dental Extraction Marina Del Rey
A dental extraction from Elegant Dentistry is always performed expertly and efficiently. Patients may be understandably intimidated by the idea of having one or more of their teeth extracted, but modern dentistry has been able to minimize discomfort. Our dentists are always careful to use the most effective and safest sedation and anesthesia techniques, meaning patients are made as comfortable as possible during and after the procedure.
While a tooth extraction is obviously something of a last resort, it can lead to greatly improved oral health with the right follow-up care. Though it’s totally normal to be apprehensive, it is important to note that a tooth extraction is far less painful than dealing with an infected tooth. Moreover, teeth can always be replaced – ideally with dental implants though also with dentures and bridgework.
Dental Extraction
Our Marina del Rey dentists may determine that a tooth, or several teeth, may need to be pulled for several reasons. These reasons tend to vary widely but may include the following:
- Infection, or the risk of infection (including gum disease)
- A crowded mouth
- Trauma to the tooth
Once it is determined that a dental surgery is necessary, both the patient and the dentist will be given some time to prepare. Preoperative instructions will be issued to the patient to help ensure that the procedure goes smoothly.
At the start of the operation, our dentists use whichever type of anesthesia they and their patients agree to. A local anesthetic may often be sufficient but, depending on the level of apprehension of the patient and the opinions of the doctor, some level of sedation may be used. Whenever any type of sedation will be used, it is important that the patient arrange a ride home from a friend or family member.
The actual removal process typically requires that our dentist gently dislodges the patient’s tooth from its socket. In some cases, however, more involved techniques may be required that may take longer or require stronger types of anesthesia.
Recovery
After the operation is completed, the patient will be sent home with post-operative instructions that are specific to their case. Certain behaviors such as spitting, smoking, and drinking through a straw are to be avoided so as to not aggravate the extraction point. Some bleeding is expected for up to four hours after the operation, though instructions issued by your dentist can assist with this.
Recovery typically requires between one and two weeks before patients can resume their normal activities. However, if a dental implant is imminent, a dentist may instruct that a number of oral behaviors should be avoided. Once the wound is fully healed, a follow-up appointment is generally scheduled to address the site.
In most cases, the gold standard treatment is to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant as soon as it is safe. While dentures and bridgework can do a tremendous amount of good, only implants deal with issues associated with missing teeth as bone loss.
Dental Extraction from Elegant Dentistry
If you are in need of a dental extraction in Culver City or the surrounding areas, we encourage you to speak with one of our representatives to set up an appointment. Our office can be reached via our site’s contact page or by calling the number at the top of your screen.
