At the office of Dental Associates of North Smithfield, our patients' care and well-being are our top priorities. Our skilled and experienced team strives to ensure patient comfort and a stress-free dental experience. We are dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized attention, earning the trust and respect of our patients.

While preserving your natural smile is our goal, sometimes extracting a tooth is necessary to protect your oral health and overall well-being.

Common Reasons for Tooth Extraction

Over-retained Baby Tooth: Sometimes a baby tooth doesn't fall out on its own, which can disrupt the alignment of your child's smile.

Extensive Decay: When a tooth has sustained significant damage from decay and cannot be restored, an extraction may be necessary.

Severely Fractured or Cracked Tooth: If the damage to a tooth is too extensive or involves the root, extraction may be the only option.

Advanced Gum Disease: Untreated periodontal disease can lead to the need for tooth extraction due to compromised supporting tissues.

Problematic Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth that are impacted, decayed, or causing issues for adjacent teeth often need to be removed.

Overcrowded Teeth: To create space for proper alignment, some permanent teeth may need to be extracted as part of orthodontic treatment.

How a Tooth Extraction Is Performed

Rest assured that your care is in the best of hands. We will review your medical and dental history and discuss any special considerations. Inform us of any existing medical conditions or medications you are taking, as extra precautions may be necessary.

Our goal is to reduce anxiety and ensure comfort during the procedure. We’ll discuss medical considerations, pre-surgical instructions, and post-surgical recommendations.

Simple Extraction: For teeth that are clearly visible and have straightforward root anatomy. The area is numbed, and the tooth is loosened and removed with forceps.

Surgical Extraction: For teeth that are broken, impacted, or fused to the bone. It may involve an incision in the soft tissues and removal of overlying bone. Patients are given local anesthesia, and additional sedation options are available.

Post-Op Care Following an Extraction

Maintaining Gauze Pressure: Bite down on gauze to stop bleeding. Change the gauze after an hour if needed. Contact our office if bleeding persists after 24 hours.

Protecting Yourself from Injury: Avoid biting or injuring your lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue while the anesthesia wears off.

Taking Medications as Prescribed:

• Antibiotics: Take the full course as prescribed.

• Pain Management: Take pain relievers before the anesthesia wears off. Use over-the-counter medications or prescribed painkillers as directed.

Facilitating Healing:

• Avoid rinsing, spitting, using straws, or sucking on candies to let the extraction site clot.

• Apply ice packs to control swelling for 10-minute intervals.

• Avoid smoking, which interferes with healing.

• Stick to soft foods and liquids, avoiding hot, spicy, carbonated, or alcoholic beverages.

Oral Hygiene: Brush gently, avoiding the extraction site. Use a mild lukewarm saltwater solution to freshen your mouth without rinsing or spitting.

Follow-Up Care: Attend any follow-up appointments for suture removal or to monitor healing. Contact our office if you experience continued bleeding, ongoing pain, increased swelling, bad taste, or other unusual symptoms.

Trust Dental Associates of North Smithfield

Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. We address each patient’s unique needs, offering personalized treatment and post-operative care for optimal recovery. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today. We're here to ensure your dental health and comfort.