At Flintridge Dental Studio, our primary goal is to maintain our patient’s natural teeth by helping to keep them healthy and strong. Unfortunately, there are occasions when tooth removal is the only option available. We can normally fix a broken, damaged or decayed tooth with a filling or crown; however, if there is too much damage and the tooth cannot be repaired, the tooth may need to be extracted from its socket in the bone. There are two standard forms of extractions: a simple or a surgical extraction.

Your appointment begins with the doctor taking a full set of X-rays to determine the shape and position of the tooth being removed, which will help in estimating the best possible way to perform the procedure. In most cases, the extraction is carried out under a local anesthetic. At Flintridge Dental Studio, our staff is trained to provide simple, surgical and Wisdom Teeth extractions.

Wisdom teeth, commonly called third molars, are extracted if they are decayed, infected or are causing the patient undue pain. They are sometimes impacted, or stuck in the jaw, and do not erupt properly, which can irritate your gums and cause swelling, which means they need to be removed. If all your wisdom teeth need removal, the doctor will remove all four teeth at the same time. Some patients prefer having their wisdom teeth removed under sedation. At Flintridge Dental Studio, we offer our patient the choice of sedation that includes: oral, intravenous, general, and local anesthetics.

After the procedure, the staff will instruct you on how to keep the area clean in order to prevent the risk of infection. The doctor may also prescribe medication, or recommend over-the-counter painkillers for pain or discomfort. The doctor would prescribe an antibiotic if the tooth before the extraction was infected. For a few days after the procedure, make sure you keep the area clean, eat soft foods, and finish any medications prescribed by the doctor.

For more information on tooth extractions, call our Flintridge Dental Studio office at (818) 814-9732 for an appointment.