Extractions
Dr. Chou may determine that you need a tooth extracted for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Some teeth may need to be extracted because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Dr. Chou is very experienced in performing dental surgeries including wisdom teeth extractions.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases Dr. Chou will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction, Dr. Chou will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process, you may feel pressure as Dr. Chou removes the teeth. The local anesthetic is very effective in numbing the nerves stopping the transference of pain, but the nerves that transmit pressure are not as profoundly affected.
However, you will be numbed with local anesthetic and/or IV sedation and you should not feel any immediate pain.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can't expand enough to remove it. Dr. Chou may section the tooth during the extraction allowing it to be removed with more ease.
Healing
After a tooth has been extracted, there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth out and fill in with bone. The initial soft tissue (gum) healing takes a few weeks and the hard tissue healing (bone) will take a few months.
To aid in this process, bone grafting in the socket at time of extraction may be recommended for you. Bone grafting will allow for less resorption of the bone around the socket, especially in the case where the extracted tooth is to be replaced with a dental implant. Without bone grafting in the socket, the extraction socket will still heal. However, with the bone smoothing out during healing around the extraction socket/crater, the resulting bone thickness may not be sufficient for implant placement.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases Dr. Chou will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction, Dr. Chou will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process, you may feel pressure as Dr. Chou removes the teeth. The local anesthetic is very effective in numbing the nerves stopping the transference of pain, but the nerves that transmit pressure are not as profoundly affected.
However, you will be numbed with local anesthetic and/or IV sedation and you should not feel any immediate pain.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can't expand enough to remove it. Dr. Chou may section the tooth during the extraction allowing it to be removed with more ease.
Healing
After a tooth has been extracted, there will be a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was. In time, this will smooth out and fill in with bone. The initial soft tissue (gum) healing takes a few weeks and the hard tissue healing (bone) will take a few months.
To aid in this process, bone grafting in the socket at time of extraction may be recommended for you. Bone grafting will allow for less resorption of the bone around the socket, especially in the case where the extracted tooth is to be replaced with a dental implant. Without bone grafting in the socket, the extraction socket will still heal. However, with the bone smoothing out during healing around the extraction socket/crater, the resulting bone thickness may not be sufficient for implant placement.
