Tooth Extractions – Holliston, MA
Saving Your Smile One Tooth at a Time
Every dentist will work hard to help you maintain a strong, healthy, and complete smile for a lifetime. However, keeping all your natural teeth isn’t always possible, nor is it always good for your health. In some cases, the best course of action is to pull a severely decayed, broken, or infected tooth. At Holliston Complete Dentistry, our team can save your grin with gentle and comfortable tooth extractions in Holliston. To learn more about this service, continue reading or call our office today!
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
Tooth extractions are always the last resort when it comes to restoring your smile. Dr. Abernethy will only recommend this emergency treatment if it’s the best choice for your long-term health and well-being. That said, you may benefit from extraction if you have:
- Extensive decay or irreparable damage in a tooth
- A severe oral infection that could spread to other teeth
- A baby tooth that has not fallen out on its own
- Advanced gum disease or jawbone loss
- Wisdom teeth that need to be removed to prevent future complications or because of impaction in the jawbone
The Process of Removing a Tooth
During your consultation, Dr. Abernethy will conduct an oral examination to determine which method of tooth extraction is best for your needs. Based on your situation, you may need a simple extraction or a surgical extraction.
A simple extraction can be performed if your tooth has fully emerged and is completely above the gumline. Dr. Abernethy will numb your mouth, then grasp the tooth with a special pair of forceps. She’ll gently rock it back and forth until it naturally comes away from the gum tissue. If your tooth isn’t fully above the gumline, a surgical extraction may be best. With this method, Dr. Abernethy will make a small incision in the gums to access more of the tooth and remove it.
Following your extraction, you’ll need to explore your tooth-replacement options and decide on one that works best for your situation. Replacing missing teeth is incredibly important! It’s necessary to prevent complications and additional oral health issues.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
After your appointment, you’ll be given a list of post-op instructions to follow. Diligently following these tips will ensure your mouth heals properly and quickly. Some basic aftercare tips include:
- Taking prescribed medication as instructed
- Brushing and flossing around the surgical site to keep it clean (do not use mouthwash that contains alcohol)
- Drinking plenty of water and getting lots of rest to promote faster healing
- Applying a cold compress to the outside of your mouth
- Avoiding hard, crunchy, sticky, or sour foods for several days