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When decay has infected a tooth, your Mansfield, TX, dentists will do everything possible to help save it. These treatments may include dental fillings, crowns, or root canal procedures. However, sometimes the tooth needs to be removed. This is often a last resort, and it is sometimes done when there is a broken tooth, one that is regularly infected, or if there is a baby tooth keeping an adult tooth from properly coming in. In cases like these, we will recommend a tooth extraction. Let us learn more about the procedure so that you can feel less nervous about it if you ever need to experience it. 

What Happens During The Treatment And Afterward

When we extract a tooth, we are removing it completely from your mouth. This also includes the roots. To help you feel relaxed and more comfortable, we will provide you with sedation and a local anesthetic close to the tooth that will be removed. Once you are relaxed, Dr. Jones or Dr. Harris will carefully remove the tooth. It is not a long procedure. After it is removed, we close the area with sutures. You will need a family member or friend to drive you home, because you will be drowsy from the sedation. Antibiotics or pain relievers will be prescribed to you to take at home. We suggest that you not prod the repaired area with your tongue or use a straw when drinking liquids. You will also want to eat softer foods for the first few days after the procedure. We will schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor how well you are healing and to take out the sutures. Once we are confident that everything is healing well, you should be able to go back to your normal daily and diet habits. 

Can The Tooth Be Replaced?

Most patients do not enjoy having a gap in their smile. Also, a missing tooth can affect how you bite and chew. After having a tooth extracted, you may want to consider other dental treatments that will fill in the gap. These include dental dentures, bridges, and implants. But what about wisdom teeth, you ask? These four extra molars usually appear in a person’s late teenage years. If they do not come in straight, they may impact other teeth, cause misalignment or cause an increased risk of infection. If we notice these things, we will recommend that they are removed. However, you will not need to replace them.   

Schedule An Appointment With Us 

Regular checkups and cleanings will help us ensure that we are helping provide you with a healthy smile and addressing any oral issues quickly that may arise. If you would like to schedule a consultation, then call Mansfield Dental Associates at 817-473-6227.