Here at Sonoma Smiles, saving your natural smile is one of our top priorities. However, there come times when certain teeth may be beyond the scope of preservation. If that’s the case, extracting the tooth may be the best step toward improved health. Our team provides gentle tooth extractions in Rohnert Park, CA.
Should I Extract My Tooth?
There are several scenarios where a dental extraction may be recommended. Ultimately, it will come down to evaluating your specific situation, comfort level, and long-term oral health goals. Some of the most common reasons why our Rohnert Park dentist will recommend removing a tooth include:
- Aggressive periodontal disease
- Severe pain/toothaches
- Intense structural damage or trauma
- Advanced tooth decay
- Untreated, chronic dental abscess
During your exam, we’ll take a small digital X-ray of your tooth to evaluate its full structure. Depending on the extent of damage, infection, and restorative options, we will let you know whether removing the tooth is the best solution.
Ensuring Your Comfort
On-site sedation dentistry options allow you to feel as calm and relaxed as possible during your extraction. Depending on your comfort level and treatment needs, we offer a variety of sedation choices to consider, as well as non-medicated relaxation (NuCalm.)
What To Expect
As with other dental treatments, we’ll numb the tooth and area immediately adjacent to it. Chances are all you’ll feel is a little pressure. Once the tooth is removed, we advise that you stick to a soft diet, avoid alcohol/caffeine/tobacco, and take it easy for a couple of days. Be sure to rinse with warm salt water a few times a day to minimize inflammation and infection. We will send you with a written set of care instructions so that you know exactly what to do once you get back home.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
In addition to simple dental extractions, we also provide onsite surgical wisdom tooth removal (when appropriate.) Impacted wisdom teeth can damage neighboring healthy teeth and are difficult to keep clean. As a result, they’re at high risk for conditions like gum disease and tooth decay. Because of their hard-to-reach location, early removal is typically the standard of care for infected or impacted wisdom teeth.
Get An Experienced Opinion
Sonoma Smiles offers expert care when it comes to removing teeth and reconstructing smiles. Contact our Rohnert Park dental office today to reserve an appointment.
Oral Surgery FAQs
Has your dentist recommended oral surgery to restore your oral health? This might sound intimidating, but with the right information, you have nothing to worry about. Keep reading the FAQs section below to help you understand more about oral surgery to get well-prepared before your treatment.
What is oral surgery?
It refers to any surgical procedure around the mouth and jaw to improve your function and aesthetics. Oral surgery can be recommended to correct injuries, tooth loss, genetic deformities, etc. Oral surgeons administer dental surgery, although dentists with additional qualifications and experience can carry out the procedure.
What are some examples of oral surgery?
The common types of oral surgery include:
– Teeth extractions: Impacted teeth or those broken at the gum line level are removed using surgical extraction
– Implantology: When you want to replace your tooth with a dental implant, the dentist surgically inserts a titanium post in the jawbone to support one or more prosthetic teeth
– Bone grafting: Have you lost your jawbone to gum disease, injury, or bone loss? Your dentist can surgically place a dental graft in the area without sufficient bone to restore your bone’s height and density
– Periodontal surgery: If you have advanced gum disease, scaling and root planing (SRP) isn’t enough to restore your gum health. In such cases, the dentist or periodontist administers procedures like gum flap surgery to restore oral health
Is oral surgery painful?
Thanks to modern dental technologies, you don’t have to fear oral surgery. Before the treatment, we administer local anesthesia to numb your sensory nerves so that you don’t feel any pain during treatment. Furthermore, if you have a fear of the dentist, talk to us about sedation dentistry for a worry-free dental experience.
What steps should I take after oral surgery?
Like any surgery, you will experience mild pain, swelling, and bruising after oral surgery. We’ll give you post care instructions to ensure you have an event-free recovery. Although it depends on your surgical procedure, general aftercare includes:
– Taking the prescribed medications as requested
– Using a cold compress to manage pain
– Taking a few days off work and physical activities to allow for healing
Additionally, keep your mouth hydrated and observe optimal oral hygiene.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the procedure and how well you care for the surgical site. A surgical extraction needs two to three weeks to heal. A dental implant requires about the same amount of time but several months to allow fusion with the jawbone.
Are there risks associated with oral surgery?
Like any surgical procedure, oral surgery carries some risks, including infection, bleeding, and anesthesia-related complications. Your oral surgeon or dentist will discuss potential risks and benefits before the procedure.
How long does oral surgery last?
This depends on the complexity of your treatment. For instance, placing a single dental implant lasts about one to two hours, but full-mouth restoration will take longer. No matter what your surgical treatment is, we offer precise dental treatments to ensure you enjoy your procedure without the unnecessary wait.
Sonoma Smiles in Rohnert Park, California, has the right equipment and skills to restore your smile even when you need complex oral surgery. Call us at (707) 868-0666 to learn more about oral surgery and how it can benefit you.
