Tooth Extractions

Your Salt Lake City Dentists Specialize in Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extractions: What to Expect

Although it sounds complicated, a Tooth Extraction is a routine procedure that, according to The Mayo Clinic, carries a very low risk of long-term complications. The procedure itself is painless when performed by Your Salt Lake City Dentists or oral surgeon, and the recovery process is usually equally simple.

Causes for Tooth Extraction

There are many reasons why a dental healthcare provider would recommend a Tooth Extraction of one or more teeth. One of the most common reasons is due to severe tooth decay beyond what is reasonable to save. In these cases, a Tooth Extraction is performed to prevent infection and also make the patient more comfortable.

Your Salt Lake City Dentists may also recommend Tooth Extraction for impacted teeth, malfunctioning teeth or teeth that are hard to clean, such as the wisdom teeth. Removal of wisdom teeth can prevent crowding and may also be more prone to causing inflammation or infection if they do not fully emerge.

Procedure

Although there are exceptions, most Tooth Extractions are uneventful procedures that last only a few minutes. Your Salt Lake City Dentists or surgeon will have already taken x-rays of the teeth prior to the procedure. The tooth, gum and bone will then be anesthetized using a local numbing agent for a patient who will be awake for the Tooth Extraction. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, may also be administered to help with anxiety during the procedure. Once the procedure begins, patients should feel only pressure – not pain. In most cases, Your Salt Lake City Dentists can remove the tooth using only applied pressure to the socket and dental forceps, rather than surgical intervention.

In some cases, Your Salt Lake City Dentists or oral surgeon will recommend full sedation – especially if there will be more than one tooth extracted during the procedure. In this case, the patient is instead given anesthesia intravenously to prevent pain throughout the entire body. Patients who undergo a sedated Tooth Extraction will have no memory of the procedure.

Recovery

Following the procedure, Your Salt Lake City Dentists or oral surgeon will have a very specific set of instructions for caring for the extraction site in the hours and days following the tooth removal. Usually, this involves leaving gauze on the extraction site to minimize bleeding for the first few hours.

Depending on the type of Tooth Extraction performed, Your Salt Lake City Dentists or oral surgeon may also prescribe medication to help relieve pain for the first few days following the procedure. So long as the extraction site is kept clean and patients follow the instructions for care, the gums should heal in a matter of weeks without complication or infection. Furthermore, if necessary and once the extraction site heals, Drs. Matt or David Stohl can replace one or more missing teeth with a bridge, a denture or a permanent dental implant for both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Schedule Your Visit Today

Your Salt Lake City Dentists specialize in tooth extractions. We are now accepting new patients from the greater Salt Lake City areas of Park City, Sandy, and Draper and visitors from neighboring states. Call (801) 719-5884 or Contact Us for an appointment!
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Foothill Dental

Matt Stohl, DMD, & David Stohl, DDS
Our dental practice provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages using state-of-the-art technology in a warm and welcoming environment. Our dentists are affiliated with the following organizations:

American Dental Association

Academy of Laser Dentistry

Academy of General Dentistry

Utah Dental Association

Salt Lake District Dental Society

To schedule a consultation, contact us online or call (801) 719-5884.