Tooth Extraction in Lewiston

Sometimes children and adults require a tooth to be extracted. This includes both primary teeth (baby teeth) as well as permanent teeth (adult teeth). If you need your tooth extracted the team at Joy Family Dentistry will make sure the process is as comfortable as possible, and will make sure that you or your child feels minimal discomfort during the extraction.

Why Would I Need A Tooth Extracted?

There are a variety of reasons that a tooth would need to be extracted. That being said, it is usually a last resort for dentists to remove teeth, especially if they are permanent teeth. However, if your tooth is severely damaged, decayed, or is causing orthodontic problems, it may need to be removed. Here are some reasons teeth may need to be extracted:

  • Issues With New Teeth: Sometimes baby teeth can get in the way of adult teeth and prevent them from coming in correctly. Because of this a dentist may recommend that your child has the baby tooth that is causing problems extracted to prevent issues for the primary tooth.
  • Orthodontic Concerns: If you or your child’s mouth can not fit their teeth and there is an issue with crowding, an orthodontist may suggest having teeth extracted to improve overall alignment. Some individuals even experience hyperdontia, which means they develop extra teeth that need to be removed.
  • Dental Health Issues: If a tooth decays too severely and root canal and other dental procedures are not viable, a dentist may recommend tooth extraction to prevent toothache pain and prevent the decay from spreading to surrounding teeth.
  • Damage To Teeth: If a tooth is severely damaged and a dental crown or cap is insufficient in providing support for the tooth it may need to be removed and replaced with a bridge, veneer, or dental implant.

Tooth Extraction For Children

As mentioned above, there are a few reasons that a child or a teenager may need to have teeth extracted. As pediatric dentists we are able to help children with the extraction process. There are two types of extractions: surgical & non-surgical. If the tooth is already through the gumline (e.g. a baby tooth needs to be removed to make room for an adult tooth) the process doesn’t require surgery. Instead the dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area before removing the tooth. However, wisdom teeth and other impacted teeth may require surgical extraction.

landing-back

Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays are an effective way for your dentist to track your child’s teeth. X-rays can show if permanent teeth are coming in straight or if there are issues being caused by overcrowding. Additionally X-rays can show if teeth are impacted or lodged in the jawline.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Unfortunately many young adults wisdom teeth are impacted. Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that unfortunately do not always fit in our mouths. In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted which can lead to infection, tooth decay, and gum disease. Many teenagers and young adults need to have their teeth surgically extracted.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

If you need to have wisdom teeth removed, or your teenager needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, our dental office cna help. Our goal as a dental practice is to make the process of tooth extraction (whether surgical or not) as pain-free and comfortable as possible. If you have questions about tooth extraction or wisdom tooth removal please let us know.

Schedule An Appointment in Lewiston

At our family dental office in Lewiston we provide a variety of general dental procedures including tooth extractions. Extractions are usually a last resort. Generally if a tooth can be saved and restored, that would be our goal. Regardless, if you or your children need immediate dental help, our team would be happy to see them and make recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are usually a last case scenario. But they are often recommended for various dental health reasons. For kids, it is not uncommon to have baby teeth (primary teeth) removed to make room for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is not coming out on its own a dentist will usually recommend waiting and observing the tooth for a few months, but if it starts to cause problems for the adult teeth, or leads to oral pain cause by the adult teeth hitting the bottom of the baby teeth, it will be recommended that the tooth is removed. 

Yes, it is common that if a baby tooth doesn’t fall out, an adult tooth might grow in around  the baby tooth. This is not an immediate concern but you should bring it up to a dentist. The dentist might recommend a tooth extraction to prevent orthodontic issues for the adult tooth. Sometimes a single baby tooth can block the passage for two adult teeth, and cause teeth to come-in behind the baby teeth. 

If a tooth that needs to be extracted is above the gums, it is a simple extraction. Traditionally, the mouth is numbed with novocaine similar to what you would experience for a root canal or filling procedure. The tooth is removed, the patient recovers over 1-2 days. 

A surgical extraction is done when a tooth is below  the gums or hasn’t fully come through the gum line. This is often the case for wisdom teeth. Since many people do not have the space for their wisdom teeth to erupt the teeth come-in at an angle and impact into the sides of the back molars. This can lead to pain and infection. The tooth is surgically removed under local anesthesia, and the recovery process is longer usually requiring multiple dental visits to remove stitches. 

If a primary (baby) tooth is extracted by your child’s dentist, they will provide you with some aftercare advice. But generally, you can follow these steps.

  • Gauze: First and foremost, your dentist will likely have provided your child with gauze that is placed over the socket to help with the blood clotting. Children and adults are told to hold that gauze in place by biting down for around 45 minutes after they get the gauze. After 45 minutes, the gauze can be removed. If there is still blood, a fresh piece of gauze should be folded, wet with warm water, and placed on top of the socket. Your child should hold it in place for 30 minutes. If the socket continues to bleed after 30 minutes, call your dentist. 
  • Pain & Medication: Your child may experience soreness for 1-2 days after the extraction. Cold compresses and ice packs can help address soreness and swelling. Over the counter pain medication designed for children can also be taken. If your dentist prescribed specific medication, please follow their instructions regarding dosage and timing. 
  • Rest: One of the most important elements of any recovery is rest. Make sure your child avoids extraneous activity for 1-2 days, and gets adequate sleep.
  • Food: Avoid hard and chewy foods after an extraction. Prioritize soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, etc. A common family tradition is to eat ice cream. Many kids love the flavors and sweetness of ice cream, so it can be very emotionally comforting. Additionally the coldness of the ice cream can also act as a bit of physical relief similar to the benefits of a cold compress or an ice pack. That said, it is recommended you let the ice cream begin to melt a bit, so it isn’t too cold. Frozen ice cream can be both physically hard, and extreme temperatures might cause discomfort. 

If a single adult tooth is removed, dental bridges and dental implants are often recommended for dental replacements. Implants are often chosen for their longer durability. If you are having a majority of your teeth extracted at an older age the two most common solutions for full smile replacement are dentures or All-On-4 Dental Implants. All-On-4 implants fully replace a row of teeth with only four surgical implants. 

Real Clients, Real Stories

My 6 year old daughter has been attending Joy Dentistry for a year. She loves her hygienist Jen. She relates really well to her. She explains what she is doing to my daughter in language she will understand. Great place for children.

Wanda M.
[review_star]/5

 

#SmileConfidently

Ready for a new Dental Experience?