When teeth suffer damage, both your oral health and your overall health are put at risk. To determine if a tooth needs to be removed, you will need to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tebyanian. During your consultation visit, Dr. Tebyanian will perform a comprehensive exam and review x-ray or 3D scans to plan the best course of action.
Extractions are a common procedure performed at our practice, and if extraction is part of your treatment, we will also discuss tooth replacement options with you. Sometimes, it is possible to place a dental implant or bone graft at the same time after extracting the problematic tooth.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

Damaged teeth can lead to serious issues, including pain and infections. Infections in the oral cavity that are the result of damaged teeth can spread through adjacent tissues rapidly and move backwards toward the throat, or into the bloodstream which can become life-threatening. Some reasons you may need a tooth extraction are:

• A crack that extends below the gum line
• A tooth that has completely split or shattered
• Excessive tooth decay
• Tooth infection
• A tooth with failed root canal therapy
• Advanced gum disease: periodontal disease which will lead to severe bone loss around the tooth and causes the tooth to become loose
• Impacted teeth: teeth that are not erupted into the oral cavity-a common occurrence with wisdom teeth
• Overcrowding: Overcrowded teeth are a cause of misalignment, which can lead to biting problems and jaw pain. In this case, an extraction can help to provide enough room for successful orthodontic treatment.

Tooth Extraction Procedure

At Olney Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, extractions are most often performed by using local anesthesia and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Dr. Tebyanian has many years of training in tooth extraction techniques and anesthesia administration, so you can be completely confident that you are receiving the very best of care.
If you require multiple extractions, or your extraction is particularly complicated, Dr. Tebyanian may recommend IV sedation for your procedure. IV sedation will put you in a twilight sleep state with no awareness of the procedure as it occurs. When we see you at Olney Center For Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for your pre-surgery consultation, Dr. Tebyanian will discuss your anesthesia options with you. We will involve you in all decisions before we proceed with your treatment plan.

How long does a tooth extraction take?

This depends on the position of the tooth, length and curvature of the root(s), thickness of bone surrounding the tooth, and the patient’s physical health. Whatever the duration may be, Dr. Tebyanian will perform the extraction as quickly as possible with a minimum amount of trauma to you. We will monitor you throughout the procedure and ensure that you are properly anesthetized in order to maintain your level of comfort.

What happens after tooth extraction?

Within 12 hours after the procedure, most of the bleeding should have stopped. If you are still experiencing significant amounts of blood loss more than 12 hours after the procedure, you should call us right away.
For a few days, you will experience soreness, light bleeding, oozing and some pain. During this time, you can take the prescribed pain medications.
Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods while your extraction site is healing and try to chew using the teeth on the other side of your mouth in order to avoid agitating the extraction site. Also, beginning 24 hours after the procedure, you should rinse your mouth out with the prescribed mouth rinse (Peridex). Rinse for 1 minute at a time, 2 times each day. Doing this will aid the healing process and reduce your chances of infection by cutting down on the bacteria levels in your mouth.