Tooth Extraction

How do you know if you need a tooth extraction?

Whenever possible, we’ll do everything we can to save even badly damaged teeth. However, there are situations when we may need to remove a tooth to prevent more serious issues. If you need a tooth extraction in Monterey, the MPDG team can help with compassionate care.

We understand that needing a tooth extraction can feel incredibly discouraging and overwhelming. If you have unsalvageable teeth, we’ll ensure your total comfort throughout the process with effective pain control and sedation options, and help you choose the best tooth replacement option for your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Because losing a tooth doesn’t have to cost your comfort or confidence!

When does a tooth extraction need to happen?

We may recommend a tooth extraction when other attempts to save the tooth haven’t worked. Regular dental visits allow us to address developing problems with fillings, dental crowns or other procedures to help repair the affected tooth or stop the progress of decay.

However, when an injury, decay, or wear is too severe, it may not be possible to restore the tooth. A tooth extraction can become necessary because of:

• Severe tooth decay
• Bacterial infection
• Advanced periodontal disease
• Severely broken or damaged teeth
• A crack or fracture that goes too deep into the tooth structure
• Damage to the root of the tooth
• Malpositioned teeth that can’t be corrected with orthodontics
• Impacted tooth/teeth
• Wisdom teeth that are causing other issues such as changes to your bite
• Preparation for orthodontic treatment

If you need a tooth extraction in Monterey, we’re here for you. Next, let’s look at what to expect if you need a tooth removed.

What to expect with a tooth extraction

If you need to have a tooth pulled, you may feel discouraged about the future of your smile.  However, with modern techniques and technology, we can minimize damage to the surrounding tissues and preserve healthy bone structure, making it easier to rebuild your smile. With safe and effective local anesthetics, as well as sedation when necessary, we can make your tooth extraction a relatively comfortable process. With proper aftercare, you’ll recover quickly so you can get back to living life to the fullest without worrying about problem teeth.

Types of tooth extractions

There are two basic types of tooth extraction: simple extraction and the more complex surgical extraction. 

A simple extraction is the most common type, used for teeth that are visible above the gum surface. Your dentist loosens the tooth and then pulls it out using specialized instruments. A surgical extraction is much less typical, needed when a broken or impacted tooth sits below the gumline. This procedure involves cutting into the gum tissue to reveal the damaged tooth and surgically remove it.

Your Monterey Peninsula Dental Group dentist will talk with you in detail about which procedure is right for you and why, and will explain what to expect during the process. In either case, we’ll ensure the process is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

We offer safe and affordable wisdom tooth extractions in Monterey

Wisdom tooth extractions are almost a rite of passage for many people. In fact, it’s most people’s first experience with surgery of any kind. That’s why it’s so important to find a team you can trust to remove wisdom teeth safely and comfortably.

Wisdom teeth can cause many problems, such as putting too much pressure on the rest of your teeth, causing them to shift and compromising the health of your bite. When wisdom teeth don’t erupt correctly, they can damage the roots of your other molars or the jawbone itself. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infections, abscesses, and further tooth loss in some cases. Even if they do erupt correctly, wisdom teeth can be incredibly difficult to keep clean, and impossible to treat properly with fillings if they develop cavities.

For these reasons, it’s often the best course of action to remove wisdom teeth before they cause issues. We frequently recommend wisdom tooth extractions in young adulthood, although it can be just as beneficial for older adults as well.

We’re proud to offer affordable wisdom tooth extractions in Monterey to protect your oral health. With safe and effective sedation dentistry options, we can ensure your complete comfort throughout the process.

What to do after a tooth extraction

Home care after a tooth extraction is vitally important to good results. When a tooth is removed, a blood clot and tissue clot forms over the socket left behind, as part of your body’s natural healing process. If the clot is disturbed during the short healing period, a very painful condition called dry socket can develop, impeding the proper healing of the socket.

To avoid that outcome, be sure to follow the aftercare instructions given by your dentist carefully and thoroughly. For the first few days after an extraction, your dental team may recommend that you:

• Avoid smoking and any kind of tobacco use
• Don’t use a straw for drinking
• Avoid vigorous swishing or aggressive rinsing
• Don’t brush or floss near the extraction site
• Avoid actions like sucking or spitting that might dislodge the clot

A few days after a tooth extraction, you may be able to ease these restrictions as the socket begins to heal up. There are additional good home care practices during the recovery time that you can use to speed healing further, like rinsing gently with warm salt water several times a day, using ice packs to reduce swelling and pain, and using over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen.

Our team will provide you with full instructions and a detailed timeline for your recovery. We’re always here for you, should you have any questions or concerns during your healing process!

What comes next? Saving your smile after a tooth extraction in Monterey

Your teeth work as a team, sharing the extreme forces of biting and chewing and providing necessary support to stay in a healthy position. Each tooth that goes missing puts more strain on its neighbors, increasing your risks for worn enamel, cracks, fractures, and shifting teeth, which can lead to more dental work and tooth loss in the future.

After a tooth extraction it’s crucial to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, your long-term oral health is our priority. We’re proud to offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art options for tooth replacement after an extraction in Monterey.

Every case is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We usually recommend one of two replacement options after a tooth extraction:

• Dental Implants: A dental implant is the best way to permanently replace missing teeth. They have the same strength, stability, and appearance as healthy natural teeth, and prevent issues like loss of volume from the jawbone.
• Dental Bridges: A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth with a single restoration crafted to look like individual teeth. With a false tooth fused to crowns on each side, we can place a dental bridge on stable natural teeth on either side of a gap, or on dental implants to replace several teeth in a row.

The most important thing is to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to protect your oral health and restore your confidence with a beautiful, complete smile. 

If you need a tooth extraction in Monterey or Carmel, don’t lose hope. Our highly experienced dentists will thoroughly examine your case to ensure that there is no alternative to extraction and provide you with the best possible treatment plan, tailored to your needs and smile goals.

Author:

This page has been reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Ryan Lehr, a partner at MPDG and a graduate of Creighton University School of Dentistry. Click here to follow him on Linkedin.