Extraction

Extraction in Huntington Beach, CA

Extractions occur when broken, fractured, or damaged teeth are removed.

What is an Extraction?

The process of removing a tooth that is severely worn, damaged, fractured, and broken beyond repair with typical conservative restorative options.

When is an Extraction Warranted?

• Impacted Tooth : usually associated with wisdom teeth that have not fully developed and are “stuck” underneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth, although not painful, can cause a lot of problems in the future because it can destroy healthy bone and cause deep pockets for bacteria to get into.
• Broken Tooth : when a tooth is deemed non-restorable because it lacks the adequate tooth structure to support a crown or filling, it unfortunately has to be removed. This broken tooth can be replaced with an implant or bridge. Contact us to see what option works best for you!
• Crowding : when teeth are developing and you are growing, sometimes there isn’t enough space to allow for all the teeth to grow upright and straight. This is usually determined by the orthodontist and it is recommended to take out specific teeth in order to create space to properly align your teeth and smile
• Malocclusion : when a tooth is developing in an area or not coming out straight where the original primary teeth were, it is warranted to remove this tooth to create space to allow for proper alignment using orthodontics (brackets and wires).
• Vertical Root Fractures : if you experience pain or discomfort when biting / chewing but there is no signs of the coronal portion of tooth being damaged, it could be signs of a vertical root fracture. Proper diagnosis and X-rays are needed to diagnose and usually warrants extraction because as a VRF continues to grow, it will continually destroy healthy bone, compromising the ability to get an implant in the future.

What is the process for an Extraction?

The process begins with correctly identifying and diagnosing that a tooth is non-restorable and requires extraction. Extractions typically mean that the tooth is at end-of-life and that there are no restorative options left to preserve the tooth. Proper diagnosis and exploring all treatment options is very important to correctly diagnose and present proper findings to you, the patient.

The tooth is carefully removed preserving as much bone as possible in order to prepare the space for an implant or further treatments in the future. A tooth is elevated slowly, breaking the ligaments that attach it to the bone. The tooth is essentially elevated out of the socket of the bone.

Sometimes, if a tooth is heavily compromised, it requires a surgical approach whereby the tooth is sectioned into pieces in order to elevate each root separately.

Following an extraction, it is always recommended for the empty socket to receive bone graft in order to help it heal nice and flat. The bone graft acts in two folds – preserves the space for a future implant and also help with healing time.

What is Next?

You may wonder what your options are after your tooth has been extracted. Dr. Vuong will work closely with you in order to identify the best approach for your specific case:

• Implant – an implant is a titanium screw placed into the socket of the bone replacing where the roots use to be. The benefits of an implant is that it is a 1-for-1 replacement of the lost tooth.
• Bridge – a bridge is an alternative option to replace the missing space, this requires shaving down the two adjacent teeth next to the edentulous space to put a bridge (essentially a 3-unit crown) that is cemented / bonded on.
• Denture – a removable prosthesis that can be used to replace single or multiple missing teeth. A great option for areas that lack adequate bone support for an implant.

FAQs

• Does an extraction hurt?
  • Typically during the process of an extraction, there is an absence of sharp pain, and a bit of pressure. During the procedure due to the use of anesthesia, the process is relatively painless. Following an extraction, there may be some slight discomfort and pain for the first few days. It is important to follow proper post-op protocols to ensure proper healing. In the presence of a large infection, Dr. Vuong may recommend taking a week of antibiotics to aid in clearing the infection and help with post-op sensitivity/discomfort.
• What is the healing process / timeline like after a tooth is taken out?
  • Bone morphology typically takes 4-6 months to heal properly. The gums should start healing in about a weeks time.
• Do I really have to replace the missing space?
  • It is highly recommended to replace the missing space because every tooth has a relationship with the teeth next to it and opposing it. When a tooth is missing, teeth will start to shift and move. As well as that, bone typically starts to resorb and you will begin losing bone in the area.
• What is bone grafting? Do I really need it?
  • Short answer, no. But it is highly recommended to maintain the health of the tissues as well as providing additional support for an implant. Without bone graft, it is more variable on how the bone will heal. Removes the guess work on being a potential candidate for implant.
• What happens if I am still in pain?
  • Call our office at Dental Oasis of Orange County immediately! It could be a sign of dry socket or post-op infection. Either case, it is important to be seen immediately for a follow up so that the site of extraction can be reviewed and treatment can be implemented to amend the issue.