Tooth Extraction Tucson, AZ

Tooth extraction is a common dental procedure we offer in Tucson, AZ. It involves removing a tooth from its socket in the bone to prevent further dental issues. When the damage to the tooth is beyond repair, an extraction is necessary. However, the team at Mohr Smiles Dentistry does their best to save as much natural teeth as possible.

Sometimes, removing a tooth is the best way to protect your overall dental health. Severe cavities that compromise too much of the tooth structure, painful infections that don’t respond to other treatments, or overcrowded teeth that affect your bite may all need extraction. Wisdom teeth frequently need removal too, especially when they’re impacted or growing at angles that could damage neighboring teeth.

Dr. Jennifer Mohr views extractions as an important part of maintaining your oral health. The procedure is a way to prevent more serious problems. Our gentle approach focuses on keeping you comfortable throughout the entire process. Knowing what to expect can make the procedure much less intimidating, and we’re happy to walk you through every step to help you feel at ease.

Reasons for Tooth Extractions in Tucson, AZ

Sometimes Dr. Mohr needs to remove a tooth to keep your mouth healthy. This might happen if a tooth has a really bad cavity, a serious infection, or if your teeth are too crowded. Wisdom teeth often need to come out too, especially if they’re growing in sideways or stuck under your gums. Other reasons include:

• Severe Tooth Decay: Tooth decay can cause significant pain and infection. When a cavity reaches the inner layers of the tooth, it may not be repairable with fillings or root canals, so it will need to be removed.
• Advanced Gum Disease: Gum disease, or periodontitis, can cause teeth to loosen by damaging the surrounding gum tissues and bone. When this happens, extracting the affected tooth might be the best course.
• Crowded Teeth: Orthodontic treatments sometimes call for removing certain teeth to create enough space for alignment. This process ensures that the teeth can move into their proper positions without issue.

Preparing for Tooth Extraction

Preparing for a tooth extraction involves several steps. First, a dental exam will help Dr. Mohr get to know what’s going on in your mouth. X-rays help us understand the tooth’s position and the extent of damage. Based on this information, she will create a treatment plan and show you exactly what’s going to happen. The general process includes:

1. Dental Exam: During the dental exam, Dr. Mohr will check the health of your teeth and gums. This step helps in planning the extraction process.
2. X-rays: X-rays provide a clear picture of the tooth’s position and condition. These images help us determine the best approach for extraction.
3. Treatment Plan: Dr. Mohr will create a personalized treatment plan based on the exam and X-rays. This plan covers all steps of the extraction process, and we’ll review it with you so you know what to expect.

Potential Complications and Risks

With every procedure, there are potential risks or complications. However, Dr. Mohr and our team do everything possible to minimize these issues:

• Common Complications: Complications are rare but possible. They can include dry socket, infection, or prolonged bleeding. Dry socket happens when the blood clot at the extraction site dislodges, exposing bone and nerves.
• Prevention Measures: To avoid complications, follow the aftercare instructions closely. Don’t use straws, smoke, or engage in strenuous activities immediately after the extraction. Keep the area as clean as possible.
• What to Expect After Extraction: Swelling and mild discomfort are common after an extraction. Over-the-counter pain medication can alleviate these symptoms, but don’t use aspirin. If you have severe pain, fever, or unusual swelling, contact our office for advice right away.

More Than Just Pulling Teeth: Surgical Solutions for a Healthier Mouth

Teeth aren’t actually pulled. Instead, we gently loosen them and ease them out. The most common reasons for tooth extraction are irreparable tooth decay, cracked or broken teeth, reinfected root canals, and advanced gum disease.

Leaving a diseased tooth in place can spread disease to other teeth, bones, and anatomical structures like nerves, sinuses, and the brain. Here are some common procedures your dentist can provide to protect your oral health after an extraction:

• Ridge Preservation (socket augmentation): When a tooth is extracted, ridge preservation is recommended to help preserve a normal bone level. After the removal of a tooth, the resulting bone loss causes a shape defect that can complicate the later placement of a dental implant. Ridge preservation means augmenting the extraction socket with bone particles at the time of extraction. Grafting bone at a later time after healing is expensive, more invasive, and may delay treatment with implants.
• Crown Lengthening: To restore a broken or decayed tooth with a crown, a certain length of sound tooth is needed to hold the crown in place. When the length is not present, a tooth can be lengthened by simply lowering the height of the bone around the tooth. This is a non-painful surgical procedure done under local anesthetic.
• Alveoplasty: A surgical procedure to reshape the bone under your gums where teeth are missing is called alveoplasty. It is usually done to make dentures fit better or more comfortably. It is often done with extractions to remove sharp or bulky areas of bone.

Are you ready to remove the troubled tooth or teeth that are causing you pain? Call Mohr Smiles Dentistry at 520-660-5666 or request an appointment online. Dr. Mohr is accepting new patients from Tucson and surrounding communities.