Tooth Extractions

Ideally, your permanent teeth stay in place throughout your life. Occasionally, though, a tooth may need to be pulled. This process is known as a tooth extraction. It’s the removal of the entire tooth from its socket. Our dentist usually performs this as a quick outpatient procedure at the Atlas Park Dental practice.

Our team is dedicated to saving all your permanent teeth. This dedication extends to performing a root canal procedure, in which the tooth’s pulp is removed, leaving only the shell. But sometimes the damage is bad enough that none of the tooth can be saved. In that case, a tooth extraction is the last resort. It may be needed for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Tooth decay or advanced periodontal disease
• A tooth infection
• Damage from trauma, as from a fall, accident or sports injury
• Tooth crowding, which is occasionally the reason for wisdom teeth removal

Types of Tooth Extraction

When one of your teeth needs to be removed, it falls into one of two main categories:

• Simple extraction. This procedure can be done on teeth that your Glendale dentist can see and access.
• Surgical extraction. This procedure is a more complex type of tooth extraction. Your dentist may choose surgery for teeth they can’t see or reach easily. This includes wisdom teeth that have not fully erupted or teeth that have broken off at the gum line.

Whichever method is used, a tooth extraction benefits your overall health. When a tooth can’t be saved, it has to come out or it can lead to more health problems and further tooth pain.

What to Expect During Tooth Removal

Our dentist first gives you a local anesthetic to numb the area before removing the tooth. If you’re having multiple teeth removed at the same time, such as during a wisdom teeth removal procedure, you may opt for general anesthesia for “twilight dentistry.” In either case, the process is usually painless, although your recovery may be uncomfortable for a few days.

If your tooth is difficult to remove or breaks up into pieces, some bone and gum tissue may have to be removed. Even if you’ve been given just a local anesthetic, you may experience pressure, but shouldn’t feel any pain.

After Your Tooth or Wisdom Teeth Removal

After the procedure, you’re sent home to rest and recuperate. If you had just one tooth removed in a simple extraction, your recovery is likely very short. You should be back to normal fairly quickly.

If you underwent wisdom teeth removal or if more than one permanent tooth was removed in a surgical extraction, you may need to take it easy for a day or two. If you experience swelling, apply an ice pack for up to 20 minutes at a time. Eat soft foods — like yogurt, applesauce or soup — for the first day or two.

The amount of discomfort you experience after the extraction depends on how difficult the tooth was to remove. Over-the-counter medications usually are sufficient to relieve discomfort. For a particularly difficult tooth removal, our dentist may prescribe stronger pain medication for the first few days after your procedure.

Risks After Your Tooth Extraction

You can avoid most risks by choosing a Glendale dentist with skill and experience like the dentists at Atlas Park Dental. They explain the risks before your extraction, and you can rest assured that all precautions are always taken with your health and safety in mind.

The biggest risks are developing a tooth extraction infection or a dry socket, which happens when a blood clot doesn’t form properly in the hole where the tooth was. A tooth extraction infection after your procedure has definite signs. For example:

• Redness where the tooth was pulled
• Severe pain even after four hours
• Swelling of your gums
• Excessive discharge or bleeding
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever or chills

Extractions with Care

You greatly reduce the chance of complications when you rely on the best dentist in Queens. Come into the Atlas Park Dental clinic for a discussion about all your options for wisdom teeth removal or other necessary dental extractions. We also provide comprehensive gum disease treatment, including deep cleaning and advanced procedures like gum graft and pinhole surgery, and even bone graft procedures when needed for optimal oral health. Atlas Park Dental serves all patients in Glendale and the surrounding neighborhoods, including:

• Forest Hills
• Middle Village
• Rego Park
• Maspeth
• Ridgewood
• Kew Gardens
• Woodhaven
• Richmond Hill
• Elmhurst
• Sunnyside
• Jackson Heights

Contact us with any questions you have about tooth extractions or to schedule your procedure.