Tooth Extraction in Fort Lauderdale and Lighthouse Point, FL
Florida Smiles Dental provides tooth extraction and wisdom tooth removal at our Fort Lauderdale dental office and our Lighthouse Point dental office. Tooth extraction may be recommended when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, impacted, fractured, or causing other oral health concerns. Our dental team evaluates each patient to determine whether removing the affected tooth is the appropriate treatment option.
Reasons You Might Need a Tooth Removed
Our dental team makes every effort to save your natural teeth. But in some cases, these teeth have to be extracted. We might determine this for:
Benefits of Tooth Extractions
Needing a tooth removed may not seem ideal. But it does have some benefits, including quick pain relief. In other cases, a tooth extraction cuts down on bacteria that cause infections, preventing additional harm and lowering your risk of a widespread infection. Removing a severely decayed or damaged tooth and replacing it also helps boost your smile!
Types of Tooth Extractions
Not all tooth removals are the same. Some are simple and quick procedures, while others are more complicated. A few of the main types of extractions we do include the following.
Simple Tooth Extractions
These are straightforward procedures that involve taking out a tooth from the socket without having to go below the gumline. They’re usually done to remove extra teeth, overcrowded teeth, or broken teeth. We might also perform a simple extraction for a decayed tooth or loose teeth from periodontal disease.
Non-Simple or Surgical Tooth Extractions
This process is a bit more complicated than a simple tooth removal. These procedures involve going below the gumline to remove a tooth using surgical instruments. We may recommend this type if we need to remove the tips of tooth roots or longer roots. Surgical tooth extractions are also done when a tooth fractures under the gums.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Are wisdom teeth causing you pain? These teeth can get stuck below the surface of your gums, causing pressure and soreness. We can surgically extract impacted wisdom teeth, alleviating discomfort. Our dentists may also recommend this to prevent wisdom teeth from affecting your current teeth.
What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction
What happens when you come in for a tooth extraction in Fort Lauderdale and Lighthouse Point, FL? That partly depends on the type you need. Simple extractions might only require local anesthesia. But surgical extractions, including wisdom teeth removal, may involve general anesthesia. You won’t be aware of what’s going on during your procedure.
What to Expect After Tooth Removal
Patients who may need a tooth extraction can receive an evaluation at our Fort Lauderdale office or Lighthouse Point office. Our dental team will examine the affected tooth and determine whether a simple or surgical extraction may be appropriate. The procedure and type of anesthesia used will depend on the condition and location of the tooth and your individual treatment needs.
Our dental team will give you instructions to help your tooth heal properly. This typically includes eating softer foods at first and ensuring the treated site is clean at all times. We may ask you to use straws and avoid touching the site.
Visit Our Dentist for Tooth Removal
Experiencing problems with a severely damaged, decayed, fractured, or impacted tooth? Florida Smiles Dental provides tooth extraction and wisdom tooth removal at our Fort Lauderdale location and Lighthouse Point location. Choose the office that is most convenient for you to meet with our dental team, receive an evaluation, discuss your treatment options, and determine whether tooth extraction may be appropriate for your individual dental needs.
FAQs on Tooth Extraction
You shouldn’t feel anything during your procedure once the local anesthesia kicks in. If you have general anesthesia, you’ll be asleep throughout the extraction. You might feel some pain when the anesthesia wears off.
You may want to explore tooth replacement options to prevent chewing difficulties or improve your smile. A few options we can discuss with you include:
Dental bridge
Dental implants
Partial or full dentures
Yes, you should stick to softer foods, like yogurt and rice, right after your extraction. We’ll let you know when it’s safe to resume your usual diet. Avoid having anything sticky, hard, or chewy, since this can irritate your jaw.
That depends on the type of tooth that’s removed. The site where a molar was may take a few months or more to completely heal. But having other teeth removed might take a few weeks for healing to occur.
If you receive local anesthesia only, you’ll typically be fine to drive yourself home. But if your procedure involves sedation or general anesthesia, you will need someone to take you home and stay with you for a few hours. We’ll let you know in advance so you can plan accordingly.