The removal of a tooth may become necessary for a number of reasons. Decay, loss of the surrounding bone (periodontal disease), and traumatic fracture are some of the more common reasons.
Your dentist will likely go to great lengths to try to save a damaged tooth, but there are instances where the problem is just too severe for the repair to be cost effective and predictable.
When extracting a tooth, the goal is to do as little surgery on the surrounding tissues as possible. It is important to minimize disturbing the attached bone and gum to promote fast and complete healing of the socket. Some shrinkage of jawbone is a natural result of tooth loss. Using proper techniques during the extraction minimizes this undesirable effect. Bone grafting the socket immediately following tooth removal will also preserve the natural contour of the jaw following extraction. The best way to preserve the natural volume and contour of the jaw where a tooth has been extracted is to replace the tooth with an implant.
Tooth extractions can be completed using local anesthesia (numbing) only, but we are happy to provide IV anesthesia for patients that would prefer to sleep through the procedure.