It’s a natural process to lose our baby teeth as we grow up. As we continue to mature and grow, depending on our unique circumstances, additional extractions could be required. You may have infected teeth that need to be taken out to preserve your oral health. You may even have extra teeth that you don’t need, such as wisdom teeth.
Whatever the situation, Drs Chapman & Owens is ready to help patients with all their extraction needs.
Tooth Extraction
The process of tooth extraction is much the same in most situations, whether it’s a simple case of needing a stubborn baby tooth taken out or removing a permanent tooth due to infection.
We will numb the area around the tooth as needed and carefully remove it. Permanent teeth will likely be slightly more intensive as their roots are down around the jawbone area while baby teeth are easier. Either way, we will be careful and considerate and make sure you are comfortable and relaxed.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Most people have wisdom teeth. If we had room in our mouths for them, there would be no need to remove them. As it is, however, the vast majority of the population doesn’t actually have room for four extra teeth.
This being the case, it has become common practice to remove wisdom teeth. If the teeth are allowed to erupt (come up) fully into a mouth full of teeth with no room for them, they can cause a lot of pain and damage to surrounding teeth. For this reason, we like to remove wisdom teeth sooner rather than later.
The Procedure and Recovery Guidelines
When you come in to get your wisdom teeth removed, we’ll heavily sedate you to keep you comfortable. After the teeth have been taken out, you’ll need to follow a few guidelines, so your mouth will heal properly:
- Keep the area covered in gauze for the first few hours.
- Take medication as needed.
- Steer clear of sharp, crumbly foods that can get into the small areas of your mouth (popcorn, chips, etc).
- Eat soft, smooth foods such as yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, etc.
- Don’t use a straw; sucking on a straw can damage your sockets badly.
It takes one to two weeks for the mouth to heal fully after wisdom teeth removal. Following these guidelines can be very helpful in your recovery process.
Call Today
We can help you with your teeth. Contact our office today with any questions or to set up a consultation.