Tooth Extractions

At the office of Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Tennessee, it is our top priority to help you preserve the health and beauty of your natural teeth. However, when a tooth is damaged beyond repair, extraction becomes necessary to avoid further oral problems. An extraction may be necessary for several reasons, such as:

Irreparable damage to a tooth due to infection or trauma, which may spread to the nearby teeth if the tooth is not removed.
Crowding of teeth in the mouth causing problems with your bite and the alignment of your teeth.
An impacted tooth (a tooth that has not erupted fully from the jawbone or is erupting at an angle), which may affect the health of existing teeth.
Sometimes, a child's baby teeth do not fall out naturally to allow the permanent teeth to come in. In such cases, the baby teeth may need to be extracted.

The process of extracting teeth begins with an X-ray to evaluate the position and condition of the tooth to determine the best way to extract it. Local anesthesia is administered so that you don't feel any pain during the procedure. Using dental instruments, the tooth is carefully loosened from its socket which may cause the sensation of pressure. In some cases, it may be necessary to extract a tooth in pieces. Once the tooth has been fully removed, the area is cleaned and a gauze pad is placed at the extraction site to control bleeding.

It is important to keep the site clean to prevent infection. You may have some discomfort after the effect of anesthesia wears off. You may use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek if you experience swelling. Limit yourself to soft, cold foods to avoid irritating the socket and avoid using straws, smoking and drinking alcohol until the site heals.

If you are facing tooth troubles, contact our office for a consultation at (865) 483-2356