Dental Extractions
- Extensive decay or damage—If damage to a tooth cannot be repaired with a filling or crown, extraction is usually the only option.
- To make space—wisdom teeth are still often removed when they crowd the other teeth or become infected or impacted.
- Orthodontia preparation—to ensure maximum effectiveness of braces and/or retainers, teeth are sometimes removed.
- Cancer therapy damage—radiation or chemotherapy to the neck and/or head can cause teeth to become infected to the extent that they need to be removed.
Tooth extractions can either be simple or surgical. Simple extractions are used to remove teeth that are visibly present and can be removed by pulling. Surgical extractions rely on incisions through the gum to remove teeth that are not visible because they have not yet grown in or because of breakage. Island Tower Dentistry offers simple extractions as needed for its southwest Florida-area patients.
Extractions in Marco Island
A simple extraction at Island Tower Dentistry begins with injection of a local anesthetic to numb the gums and tooth being extracted. Island Tower Dentistry also offers oral conscious sedation for those patients who request it. Once the area is completely numb, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke or Dr. Ryan Whelen will use a special tool called an elevator to loosen the tooth from the bone and then pull it out with forceps. The procedure itself takes little time, and patients can usually leave soon after.
Recovering from a Tooth Extraction
After the local anesthetic wears off, patients typically experience some discomfort in the gum area around the extraction site and may also have a sore jaw. In most cases, this usually subsides within a day or two and it can be easily addressed with over-the-counter medications.
Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Whelen recommend limiting the diet to soft foods during the first couple of days after the extraction. Food should be chewed to the extent possible away from the extraction site and sugary foods and drinks should be avoided. Smoking is also discouraged, as it slows healing and can expose the extraction site to bacteria.
Using a straw or otherwise creating suction within the mouth should also be avoided. Such actions can break or remove the blood clot that has formed in the extraction site to protect the underlying bone and tissue.
Tooth Replacement Options
Those who lose teeth due to extraction or other reasons usually want to know what their options are for filling the gap and restoring their smile. Dental implants provide the best option for restoring a single tooth, while cosmetic dentures can address multiple tooth loss. Island Tower Dentistry has been providing its patients the most advanced dental implants and cosmetic dentures for over three decades.
Contact Island Tower Dentistry
Dr. Johnathan Van Dyke, Dr. Ryan Whelen, and their highly qualified team of dental hygienists, dental assistants, and support staff stand ready to address all of your oral health care needs, including extractions in Marco Island, Florida. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 239-394-1004. Our office is conveniently located at 606 Bald Eagle Drive, Suite 200, Marco Island, Florida 34145.
