Tooth Extractions – Nashville, TN

Here at Green Hills Dental Center, we always strive to save our patients’ teeth. Doing so is the best way to ensure their smiles are as healthy and strong as possible. However, sometimes teeth simply can’t be saved (or salvaged) and need tooth extractions in Nashville. Through these removals, our team can protect a patient’s oral health and keep it from getting worse. For more details on how they work, continue reading below or schedule a visit to see us.

Reasons Why Tooth Extractions are Necessary

Keeping your natural teeth is always best, so our team never takes tooth extraction lightly. The treatment is a last resort – done when no other option exists. We would much rather preserve a tooth with restorative treatments like dental crowns, tooth-colored fillings, etc. That way, you could keep it as the ideal tool for biting, chewing, and smiling.

With all that said, our office only performs tooth extractions in severe cases. We may suggest you get one if you suffer any of the following:

• A tooth with an inoperable cavity
• Loss of the bone needed to support a tooth
• Broken teeth that can’t be put back together
• A rapidly-spreading tooth infection

The Process of Removing a Tooth

At your consultation visit, we’ll assess your tooth to see how (or if) we should remove it. We’ll then use our findings to confirm whether the extraction (if done) will be simple or complex.

Our team will perform a simple extraction if the affected tooth is visible. For this kind, we’ll start by numbing the treatment site so the procedure goes painlessly. We’ll then use dental forceps to rock your tooth back and forth until it separates from your gums.

If the tooth hasn’t fully erupted, we’ll likely perform a complex extraction. This procedure makes an incision in your gums once we’ve numbed your mouth. Once that’s done, we’ll divide and extract the tooth into sections to reduce bone loss. Treatment will end by sewing the incision closed.

Whether your treatment is simple or complex, we’ll plan how to replace your missing tooth after its removal. This step ensures you won’t suffer the long-term effects of tooth loss.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Adult teeth are normally permanent, so you’ll need time to heal from the extraction process. Your mouth will likely feel achy and sore during this recovery period. Thankfully, you can manage these temporary symptoms by doing the following:

• Clean the treatment site with a saltwater rinse 24 hours after the extraction.
• Since suction can dislodge blood clots, don’t drink from a straw for a few days.
• Don’t smoke or spit right after treatment, as these habits would delay your recovery.
• Use store-bought painkillers to reduce post-treatment aches.
• As long as it’s healing, don’t chew near the extraction site.

The tips and tricks above should help you heal from your extraction. Once you’ve recovered, you can look into our tooth replacement options. A new prosthetic would restore your smile, improve your bite, and more.