Tooth Extractions

Basic extractions are typically used for teeth that have been damaged by oral injuries, gum disease, or tooth decay. We will always try to save your tooth first, but sometimes extraction may be necessary.
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For example, if a tooth is severely infected, it may not be possible to save it with a root canal. Instead, Dr. Eastwood may recommend an extraction. Restorative treatment, like a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture, can be used to replace your missing tooth.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars, and are a natural part of our mouths. However, they grow in much later than the rest of our teeth, usually between the ages of 17-25. Because of this, many people do not have enough space in their mouths for wisdom teeth, particularly if they have had orthodontic work.
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That means that the wisdom teeth can cause issues with your other teeth when they begin to erupt. They may cause your other teeth to shift and become misaligned, or they may become impacted and get infected. Wisdom teeth tend to cause discomfort, which is why most people choose to have them extracted when they begin to emerge. Sedation is available to help your dental treatment be as comfortable as possible.

Impacted wisdom teeth are one of the most common complications related to wisdom tooth eruption. When your wisdom tooth is “impacted,” this means that it has not fully erupted from your gums.
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Impacted wisdom teeth can also affect the position and health of the adjacent teeth, particularly if they’re growing in crooked. In addition, these partially erupted teeth can catch food debris and bacteria, leading to a higher risk of a tooth abscess or infection.
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Because they have not fully erupted, most impacted wisdom teeth must be removed surgically. In a surgical extraction, your dentist will numb and clean the extraction site, then make a very small incision in the gum tissue near the impacted tooth. The impacted tooth is removed through the incision in the gum tissue. Once the entire tooth structure has been completely extracted, your dentist will clean and sanitize the area and suture it shut.

Bone grafts, or bone tissue transplants, are used to repair weak, fractured or traumatized bones within the body. The most common use of bone grafting is in preparation of placing a dental implant.

After tooth loss, the jaw begins to deteriorate. This weakened jaw bone needs to be strengthened in order to properly support the post of a dental implant. Bone grafting uses processed bone minerals that stimulate bone growth and the formation of new bone. Healing and recovery from the surgery is similar to that of a tooth extraction, but it will take 3 to 6 months for bone mass to generate.