Tooth Extraction
There are several reasons Dr. Strandburg might need to pull out one or more of your teeth:
- If a tooth is damaged beyond repair by trauma or decay
- If you have an impacted wisdom tooth that may cause trouble later on
- If your teenager will soon undergo orthodontic treatment and has insignificant space for adult teeth (crowding)
- If you still have baby teeth that have not come out, even though it is past time for them to go
Our office performs two types of dental extractions: non-surgical and surgical.
- During a non-surgical extraction, your tooth and the surrounding tissues will be numbed and then the tooth will be extracted without any need to remove the surrounding bone.
- During a surgical extraction, a small amount of surrounding bone will be removed to help extract the tooth. This may be necessary if the tooth is severely broken down or weakened by a root canal. Sometimes teeth that have multiple roots can be sectioned to allow each root to be removed individually with less damage to the surrounding bone.
Sometimes after a tooth extraction, a small amount of bone grafting material is placed into the socket to help preserve the bone volume. This is important if a dental implant will be placed in the area of extraction.
Replacing Missing Teeth
If you need to replace a tooth that has been pulled, Dr. Strandburg performs several procedures to replace missing teeth.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a metal replacement for the root structure of a missing tooth. A crown will attach to the dental implant, giving you an authentic-looking and functioning tooth. Dental implants can replace one or more teeth. Learn more about dental implants.
Bridges
A bridge spans the gap created by missing teeth. It is anchored to the teeth on either side of the gap by a crown. A bridge can replace one or more teeth. Learn more about bridges.
Full or Partial Dentures
If multiple teeth must be extracted, full or partial dentures will restore your smile. Dentures can either sit on your gums or be anchored in your mouth by dental implants. Learn more about full and partial dentures.
Prevent Tooth Extraction by Maintaining Dental Health
If your tooth is damaged or decayed beyond repair, it may need to be removed. To prevent this, maintain good dental health by:
- Brushing your teeth twice per day
- Floss at least once per day
- Do not open things with your teeth
- Avoid eating or drinking too much sugar
- Do not grind your teeth