Teeth Extractions- What Patients Should Know...

Extraction of a tooth is is an emotionally traumatic experience, but the actual procedure does not have to be. If performed by an experienced oral surgeon, the procedure can be done easily and quickly with minimal complications and optimal comfort. IV sedation is a marvelous anesthesia option making the experience great.

Teeth require extractions for several reasons. These include:

• Severe caries (decay)
• Significant periodontal disease
• Significant pain due to infection / inflammation of the pulp (nerve of the tooth)
• Non-restorable due to position or significant caries
• Non-responsive to endodontic therapy (root canal procedure)

With modern day techniques and skills, teeth extractions can be done with minimal invasiveness and time. In fact, surgical removal of teeth takes only 5-10 minutes in most situations. The initial healing takes place in 48-72 hours and typically stable in 5-7 days. Complete healing of any extraction site takes about 6 weeks. Dental implant replacement can be done in 6-8 weeks after an extraction. It is crucial that at the time of extraction the supporting bone is inspected for any defects. The bone undergoes significant resorption and loss following a tooth extraction resulting in defects that are unsightly and difficult to maintain proper hygiene. Also, they create a poor site for implant placement later.

Therefore a site preservation grafting is recommended in the following situations:

• Augmentation of bone loss due to periodontal disease or abscess
• Enhancement of the tissue architecture in the upper front area (Aesthetic zone) to optimize aesthetics and smile line
• Preservation / Augmentation of bone necessary to allow placement of dental implants or other prosthesis at a later time

A transitional prosthesis may be fabricated and placed in the extracted site on the same day.

So here are the key information to remember about a tooth extraction:

1) Best performed by experienced oral surgeons

2) IV sedation is the preferred anesthesia option

3) Always replace the missing tooth with an implant to maintain oral health and condition of other teeth

4) Consider grafting procedures to preserve your jaw bone and maximize on function and aesthetics once restored

For more information, contact Dr. H. Ryan Kazemi at hkazemi@facialart.com

Visit our website: www.facialart.com

Office Telephone: (301) 654-7070

Office location: Bethesda, MD

Visit our video podcasts on:
1) iTunes: search word- 'dr. kazemi'
2) Vimeo.com: search 'dr. kazemi's oral surgery channel'
3) YouTube: search 'implantguru'