At Dentist of Bixby Knolls, we do everything possible to make sure that you keep your natural teeth. However, sometimes you may need to get a tooth extracted. If that’s the case, we can help with a safe and effective extraction.
Keeping natural teeth is generally preferable but there are times when our Bixby Knolls dentists recommend extracting a tooth. Sometimes teeth are extracted for preventative reasons. For example, wisdom teeth are routinely extracted from teenagers if dentists feel these incoming back molars will crowd the rest of the teeth.
Otherwise, here are some additional reasons why teeth might need to be extracted:
If a tooth is infected and cannot be fixed with a root canal.
A tooth has become irreparably damaged due to an accident.
The tooth is impacted (meaning, it has not fully erupted into the mouth) and is causing pain or other problems.
Basic Tooth Extraction: With a basic tooth extraction, your Bixby Knolls dentist will numb the area surrounding the tooth and take the tooth out with forceps. Self-dissolving sutures are put in place to seal the wound.
Surgical Tooth Extraction: For impacted teeth and highly decayed teeth, a surgical extraction may be required. Since the area surrounding the tooth may need to be removed to get to the tooth, sedation may be necessary.
It might be tempting to hold off on a tooth extraction, but this isn’t a good idea. If an infected tooth is left in the mouth, it can cause chronic pain and the infection can potentially spread to surrounding teeth and gums. Here are some of the benefits of getting a tooth extraction:
Removes an infected tooth to stop the infection from spreading.
Stops chronic pain from an infected, damaged, or impacted tooth.
Creates space in the mouth for other teeth to be properly aligned (wisdom teeth).
Helps mitigate periodontal (gum) disease.
At Dentist of Bixby Knolls, we offer a variety of advanced technologies to replace missing teeth. Not all extracted teeth need to be replaced – wisdom teeth, for example, are usually taken out to create more space in the mouth. When baby teeth fall out in children, they also do not need to be replaced, although a spacer might be put in to provide room for the incoming permanent teeth.
How a tooth is replaced depends on where the tooth was and whether or not any other surrounding teeth have also been removed. Teeth can be replaced in a number of ways, including:
If you need a tooth extraction that requires a tooth replacement, we will discuss this with you beforehand and go over all your options.
The cost of tooth extractions in the North Long Beach area varies depending on the complexity of your specific case, especially if the tooth is impacted and requires oral surgery. The cost for tooth replacement will depend on the type of replacement option chosen. We offer convenient financing options to make dental payments easy and affordable, and we coordinate with most major dental insurance providers.
Contact Dentist of Bixby Knolls today at (562) 287-5175 to schedule a consultation.
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