Tooth Extractions

Although they are not the first choice for patients or dentists, tooth extractions may be required for a variety of reasons in order to safeguard your oral health. Despite our adult teeth being made to last a lifetime, they may have to be extracted if they have been severely damaged by decay or trauma or if they have developed an infection.

Wisdom teeth are known to create a range of issues and have to be extracted. However, many dentists don’t provide this service. At Picacho Family Dental in Yuma, AZ, we are one of the only dental practices in Yuma, Arizona, to offer wisdom tooth extractions.

When Are Tooth Extractions Necessary?

Aside from the above scenarios, there are several other reasons why we may recommend a tooth extraction. For example, if you’ve got overcrowded teeth, it may be necessary to remove some of them to prepare your mouth for orthodontic treatment. Equally, if there isn’t enough space in your mouth for a new tooth to come through (i.e. a wisdom tooth), extraction may be recommended.

Infections are another common reason for extracting teeth, especially when the damage or decay extends into the pulp of your tooth (where your blood vessels and nerves are located). If the pulp is infected by bacteria, a root canal may be performed to remove the infection, but if this and a course of antibiotics fail to cure it, an extraction may be required to prevent the infection from spreading further.

What Does a Tooth Extraction Entail?

Before your tooth is extracted, you’ll be given a local anesthetic to numb the area (a general anesthetic may be offered if you’re having more than one tooth removed or the tooth is impacted). As the dentist removes your tooth, you’ll feel some pressure because they’ll need to rock the tooth back and forth to widen the tooth socket so the tooth comes loose.

In some cases, i.e. if the tooth is impacted (namely the tooth hasn’t fully emerged from the gum, as is often the case with wisdom teeth) an incision may be required in the gum and bone tissue before the tooth can be removed. Hard-to-remove teeth may also need to be broken up into pieces before the extraction.