Tooth Extractions – Las Vegas, NV
Remove Problematic Teeth, Restore Your Smile!
As your dental team, one of our primary goals is to help you maintain a healthy, happy smile for life. While that usually involves caring for your natural teeth, there are some cases where that’s simply not an option. The good news is that our tooth extractions in Las Vegas are virtually painless thanks to powerful numbing agents, sedation dentistry, and detailed aftercare instructions! To learn more about this emergency dentistry treatment, including why it’s sometimes necessary, give us a call or read on.
Why Choose Summerlin Center For Aesthetic Dentistry for Tooth Extractions?
- Kind and Experienced Dentists
- Sedation Dentistry Available
- Early Morning Appointments
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
As we mentioned above, there are some cases where we have to resort to a tooth extraction. A few examples include:
- When a tooth has decayed or been damaged beyond the point of repair
- Space needs to be made in the mouth prior to orthodontic treatment
- A baby tooth refuses to fall out on its own
- The wisdom teeth are growing in sideways or are impacted
The Process of Removing a Tooth
There are actually two different ways we can remove the tooth or teeth in question:
- A Simple Extraction – This is ideal when the tooth has broken through the gumline. This allows your dentist to gently rock it back and forth until it’s ready to be removed from the socket.
- A Surgical Extraction – This is ideal when the tooth is trapped underneath the gumline. First, we’ll make a small incision in the gums. Then, we can remove the tooth one section at a time.
In both cases, the first step is the same: to numb your mouth thoroughly so you don’t feel any pain in the process.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Before you leave our office, we will provide you with several aftercare instructions to help the healing period go as smoothly and comfortably as possible. A few examples include:
- Avoiding strenuous exercise, like HIIT training
- Taking prescribed or OTC pain medication as directed
- Sticking to a liquid diet for the first 24 hours (without using a straw)
- Using a cold compress in 10-minute intervals
- Keeping your head elevated, including while you sleep
- Brushing and flossing carefully around the extraction site
Do you have any questions for our team about tooth extractions, including how you can prepare for the procedure? If so, don’t hesitate to call our Las Vegas dental office!
Tooth Extractions FAQs
How should I prepare for my tooth extraction?
We covered above what you should do after your tooth extraction, but is there anything you should do beforehand? The short answer is “yes.” In the weeks leading up to your appointment, you should purchase anything you need for the recovery period, like cold compresses, OTC pain medication, and soft foods. If you’re being sedated, you also need to arrange for an adult that you know and trust to drive you to and from our office. Finally, don’t use any tobacco products and eat well-balanced meals.
The night before your procedure, do your best to get a solid eight hours of sleep. Then, the morning of, choose something comfortable to wear, eat a healthy meal (unless instructed otherwise), and arrive a few minutes early to your appointment.
Does getting a tooth extracted hurt?
This is one of the most-asked questions about tooth extractions in Las Vegas, especially for patients who struggle with dental-related anxiety. We can say the answer is “no” with confidence because the first step of the procedure is always to numb your mouth thoroughly. Not only that, but we will give you a list of aftercare instructions. That way, you stay as comfortable as possible during the healing period as well.
Tip: If you struggle with a fear of needles or you had a bad experience with a different dentist, ask us about sedation dentistry! With calming solutions like nitrous oxide, we can ensure your time in the treatment chair is anxiety-free.
How soon can I eat after my tooth extraction?
You need to wait until you’ve regained full sensation in your mouth, which usually takes an hour or two. This is important because, if you don’t, you could accidentally bite down on your tongue, your lips, or the insides of your cheeks, sustaining a serious soft tissue injury in the process.
Once you’re in the clear, stick to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt. With bone broth, mashed potatoes, and other hot foods, allow ample time to cool since the area around the extraction site will be more sensitive than usual.
What can I do to speed up the healing time?
If you’re used to being on-the-go, you might feel a bit stir-crazy during the recovery process. However, getting back to your usual routine too soon can lead to a dry socket, delayed healing, and other issues. So, it’s important that you follow the aftercare instructions that your emergency dentist provides, including eating extremely soft foods and refraining from strenuous exercise.
Can I leave the space empty after a tooth extraction?
That depends on the reason we performed the extraction! If we removed the tooth to create space in your mouth prior to orthodontic treatment, then we will leave the space empty. Conversely, if we removed it because it was damaged beyond the point of repair, then we will need to replace it with either a dental bridge or a dental implant so the appearance of your smile and the strength of your bite aren’t compromised moving forward.