Tooth Extractions

At Laser Dental Bakersfield, our dentists work hard to preserve and restore the integrity of a patient’s teeth, but sometimes a tooth extraction is the only option. We extract teeth when there are not any other remedies that could successfully rectify the problem, such as severe tooth misalignment, impacted teeth, or severely infected teeth. Our dentists are gentle, effective, and experienced in tooth extractions, making the experience stress-free for you.

The Simple Extraction Procedure

Our dentists perform simple extractions right in our office. We use a local anesthetic to numb the area to keep you comfortable during the entire procedure. After numbing the area, our dentists use extraction forceps to gently remove the tooth from your mouth. You may feel a little pressure, but there will not be pain while we extract the tooth during a simple extraction.

The Surgical Extraction

Teeth that remain impacted or have not emerged past the gumline may need a surgical extraction. During a surgical extraction, we numb the area with anesthetic, just as we do for a simple extraction. However, rather than simply pulling the tooth, we will cut the gumline to get access to the tooth. If there is bone covering the tooth, we will remove the bone to get full access to the affected tooth, pulling it out from its impacted state.

Preparing For Tooth Extraction

Our staff will carefully prepare for your tooth extraction to ensure a healthy outcome. We start by taking x-rays of the area where the tooth sits. If we need to pull more than one tooth, a full mouth x-ray may be necessary.

We will also discuss your medical history and any current medications that you take to ensure your safety during the procedure. Our dentists will review your case in its entirety before formulating a plan to extract the tooth or teeth.

Risks Of Tooth Extraction

The risks of tooth extraction are minimal. Our dentists use every precaution necessary to keep you healthy and safe during an extraction. The complications of not having the extraction are typically much worse than the side effects of pulling a tooth.

The largest risk of pulling a tooth is the absence of a blood clot forming in the socket. If this occurs, the bone beneath where the tooth was will remain exposed. With a sedative dressing placed over the area, though, a new blood clot will form, fixing the issue.

Other minimal risks of tooth extraction include infection accompanied by fever and chills, excessive swelling or bleeding at the surgical site, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Again, these side effects are rare, but should be brought to the attention of the dentist should they occur.

Tooth extraction is a safe and viable option when we have exhausted all avenues to save the tooth or teeth. Sometimes removing the offensive tooth from your mouth is the only way to preserve your oral health, which is our ultimate goal.