Tooth Extractions – Odessa, TX

Keeping Your Smile Healthy

Our goal is always to help patients keep their natural smiles for a lifetime, but that isn’t always possible. When tooth extraction is necessary, Drs. Franklin and Stephen Boyles have the training and experience to offer comfortable, effective tooth extractions to preserve overall oral health for our patients. If you’re in need of tooth extraction, contact Boyles General Dentistry to find out more or schedule an appointment.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

While we typically work hard to help patients retain their natural teeth, there are some situations in which extraction is not avoidable. Typically, we make the final decision by considering the impact on your overall oral health. If keeping the tooth is likely to do more harm to patients’ oral health than extraction, we recommend removal. Unless the tooth is extracted for orthodontic reasons, we typically include consultation on tooth replacement options as part of the overall treatment plan. The most common reasons we recommend tooth extraction include:

• Severe decay or damage that has affected more than half of the tooth causing the remaining structure to be unable to support a restoration
• Preparation for orthodontic realignment (braces) may call for the extraction of one or more teeth to allow the remaining teeth to shift comfortably into alignment
• Prior to creating a partial or full denture, one or more teeth that are damaged or weakened may be removed
• Third molars, wisdom teeth, are the last to erupt into patients’ smiles, and there is often inadequate space to accommodate these teeth making extraction necessary

Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Extractions

Removing a tooth is a permanent change to your smile, so you want to be sure that you feel completely certain about it before the procedure. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions that we get about tooth extractions. If you need more information or have questions that we haven’t listed here, contact our team. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled dentists for you.

How do I know if I need a tooth extracted?

It can be difficult to know on your own whether or not a tooth needs to be extracted. Can your injured or decayed tooth be saved, or is it too damaged to salvage? In many cases, one of our dentists will explain the problem and why he recommends extraction. We will always take the time to make sure that you fully understand your situation and why removal may be your only or best treatment option. We want you to feel confident moving forward with any treatment and know that your smile is in capable hands.

Do I need to see an oral surgeon?

Most of the time, our dentists can handle tooth extractions right here in our dental office! We may refer you to an oral surgeon if there are special complications, but in general, we have the training and experience to perform this procedure safely in our comfortable dental office.

Can I receive sedation during my tooth extraction?

Absolutely. Even though we’ll make sure that you don’t feel any physical discomfort during the procedure, we understand that you may feel anxious about having a tooth removed. At Boyles General Dentistry, we offer two forms of sedation: oral conscious and nitrous oxide. When you meet with one of our dentists, together we can decide which can better meet your needs.

What is recovery like after a tooth extraction?

Following a tooth extraction, it’s important to take special care of the site. After all, it is a surgical procedure, and you want to avoid infections. Immediately afterward, keep gauze on the site for a few hours to absorb any blood. Allow a blood clot to form there and do not dislodge it—the clot protects the vulnerable tissues underneath from bacteria and helps you in the healing process.

Here are some other things to do in order to heal properly from this procedure:

• Use a cold compress on your face to manage swelling.
• Take pain medication as needed to handle soreness.
• Do not eat crunchy or hard foods for a while.
• Eat softer foods for at least a few days and slowly progress back to your normal diet.
• When you eat, avoid using the side of your mouth that has the missing tooth.
• Avoid using a straw for at least 48 hours.
• Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours.

What are my options for replacing a tooth after it’s extracted?

There certainly are situations, such as for orthodontic care or wisdom teeth, where you don’t need to replace a tooth that is removed, but most of the time you do. Luckily, at Boyles General Dentistry, we offer several options according to your needs, including dental bridges, full or partial dentures, or dental implants. Whether you’ve only had one tooth removed or an entire arch, we can fully restore the entirety of your missing teeth with dental implants, which anchor the dental prosthetic in place with titanium posts that integrate with the jaw bone. We can discuss your replacement options in more depth and help you decide which is the best choice for you during your consultation with us. So call us today!