What is a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction, or pulling a tooth, is the removal of a tooth from their socket in the bone. At NW Dental, we ensure that a tooth extraction is a painless procedure. Our Houston or Cypress dentists perform teeth extractions on a daily basis at our Northwest dental clinics. We staff highly skilled cosmetic dentists with decades of experience in performing successful and pain-free dental extractions. Our dental staff will thoroughly check your gums, mouth, and teeth before extracting a tooth. Once the problem tooth has been removed we provide pain medicine so that the patient does not feel any pain afterwards. The dentist or oral surgeon performing the procedure will provide the patient with post-operative care information and to ensure quick, proper, and pain-free healing of the area.

Reasons for Receiving a Tooth Extraction

There are several reasons why receiving a tooth extraction is necessary. Before pulling a tooth out our Houston dentist will examine the tooth and affected area to decide if teeth removal is needed. Here some of the more common reasons why people receive tooth extracions:

• Wisdom Teeth - This is the most common reason. These teeth are hard to reach because of their location on the jawline so they often cause issues by getting cavities. They also tend to grow out of line with the rest of the jawline either too far in, our, or too high or low. This makes chewing and talking difficult and can sometimes cause pain.
• Tooth Decay - Our dentist will first examine a problem tooth to see if it is possible to save it, however when a tooth develops severe cavities or extreme tooth decay, tooth extraction and dental implants are often a necessary and excellent solution.
• Braces - When teeth are compacted or severely out of line with the rest of the teeth extraction is the best answer. Teeth removal is often necessary before applying braces on the teeth and this is common with patients that are teenagers or younger.

After a tooth has been removed the gap must not be left because an unfilled space in the patient’s teeth could lead to shifting in remaining teeth causing even more issues.

What is a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Wisdom teeth removal is also a common procedure at our Houston, Tx dentistry and we make it a priority to make the procedure as painless as possible. Before performing a wisdom tooth extraction we completely numb the area. At NW Dental, patient comfort is our first concern. There are 2 common types of extraction procedures.

Simple Extractions

A simple extraction is the removal of a tooth that is visible in the mouth and is normally done under local anesthesia.

Surgical Extractions

A surgical extraction is performed when the tooth cannot be easily seen or accessed and is usually performed under general anesthesia. When a tooth is not fully visible, or has not fully erupted, or when the tooth has been broken under the gumline, surgical removal is necessary. This type of oral surgery involves a dentist making an incision to elevate the soft tissues surrounding the problem tooth.  In some cases, the tooth may be split into multiple pieces to facilitate its removal.