……when it becomes necessary to extract that tooth, or teeth, from the socket in the bone. That can happen for various reasons. The most common reason we hear about is for the extraction of our wisdom teeth, and why is this? Basically, we have 32 teeth in our mouth – 16 up and 16 down, by the time we are about 18. The last 4 to come in are our wisdom teeth, or third (large) molars in the back of our mouths. These teeth may not be a problem if they come in and align correctly, and the gum tissue is healthy. However, reality shows that a lot of us only have room in our mouths for 28 teeth – and we end up with 32 – and sometimes they don’t come in well and get impacted. That crowding is painful, and your Dental Associates of West Michigan will likely recommend extraction, which is accomplished by oral surgery. Contact us today 616-554-9750 for an initial consultation.
Extraction can also be indicated to create the structurally needed room for teeth to come in straight. They may also be removed if straightening cannot be accomplished due to the fact that they are badly positioned in the mouth. Occasionally, also, teeth are removed as a patient will request this for economic reasons – the tooth/teeth may be so badly decayed they have to come out, or they need to have crowns or other treatments that the patient cannot afford. Badly decayed or damaged teeth have to be extracted if they cannot be restored, in order to prevent further decay among the nearby teeth or further gum disease.
The extraction procedure can usually be done in your dentist’s office, and the Dental Associates of West Michigan team led by Steven M. Conlon D.D.S. and James P.M. Vincelj D.D.S. has the necessary experience and equipment to perform this oral surgery. There are some considerations to heed, such as if there is infection present at the time it is decided to extract the tooth/teeth. The infection may need to be cleared up first – that is a decision you and your dentist will make together. If you have some heart conditions, have had recent heart or joint replacement surgery in the last 6 months, or are on anticoagulants for any reason, there will be certain needs, such as stopping anticoagulation several days prior to your oral surgery, or being on antibiotics. These needs will be discussed and met – no problem.
Talk to your Dental Associates of West Michigan team today if you have questions about tooth extraction or oral surgery. They will want to answer your questions and allay any concerns you may have in this matter. Kindly contact us today 616-554-5970; we will be there for you!
