Oral Surgery

Teeth Extractions

You may need a tooth extracted if you have an infection, decayed tooth or if your wisdom teeth are coming in.

When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Your dentist can recommend extracting a damaged tooth if they cannot fix it with a filling, crown, or other dental treatment. Or they may recommend extraction when there isn't enough room for all your teeth in your mouth. There are other reasons tooth extraction might be necessary, such as:

• Tooth decay or infection has reached deep into the tooth
• Baby teeth aren't falling out in time for the permanent teeth to grow in
• Orthodontic treatment like braces may work better if there is more room in the mouth
• Wisdom teeth are coming in during the patient's late teens or early 20s, and there is not enough room in the mouth

When wisdom teeth are prevented from erupting into the mouth properly, they are referred to as impacted.

Impacted teeth can result in infection, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or formation of a cyst or tumor from the follicle, which forms the crown of the tooth.

Many dentists recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems.

What happens after the extraction?

After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches. Some stitches dissolve over time and some have to be removed after a few days.

Your dentist will tell you whether your stitches need to be removed. A folded cotton gauze pad placed over the wound will help stop the bleeding.