Tooth Extraction
Dentist McHenry, IL
 When a tooth is infected or damaged beyond repair, the best option is to remove the tooth so that the infection does not spread. Depending on the location of your tooth, McHenry Smile Center will provide either a simple or a surgical extraction. Following this procedure, we also have a variety of dental restoration options available so that you can still have a natural-looking smile.
Simple Dental Extraction
Simple dental extraction can be used when your tooth is easily accessible above the gum. Despite this not being a surgical procedure, we will still administer local anesthesia so that you remain comfortable during the procedure. Our dentist uses an instrument called a dental elevator to loosen and elevate the tooth. With the tooth elevated, our dentist can grasp the tooth with forceps and maneuver it until it becomes loose. No suture is needed for this procedure as your body will naturally form a sufficient blood clot immediately following the procedure.
Surgical Dental Extraction
Surgical dental extraction is a bit more involved, but it is still quite a simple process. Surgical extraction is needed when the tooth is impacted under the gum, meaning it is not visible. First, our dentist will provide local anesthesia to numb the area. We typically use general anesthesia for surgical procedures as well. To access the tooth, our dentist makes an incision in the gum over the tooth. In addition, the tooth may need to be cut into multiple pieces in order to be removed more easily.
Recovery
The local anesthetic will keep you numb for several hours following the extraction procedure. General anesthesia, on the other hand, will make you feel groggy for the remainder of the day. As the anesthesia wears off, it is normal to feel slight tenderness in the extraction site. Our dentist may recommend ice and over-the-counter pain medication for a few days after the extraction. You should let us know, though, if these symptoms last longer than a few days.
Dental Restoration Options
Your teeth do not grow back, so there will be an empty space where we extract the tooth unless you get a dental restoration. Dental restorations are recommended to maintain proper look, function, and structure. Some restorations can be provided on the same day, while others may take a few days or weeks to complete after the procedure. Though many people prefer same-day restorations, these are not recommended since they tend not to fit as well over time. This is because, as the gums heal from the surgery, they will shrink and change shape.
For single tooth extraction, we will restore the area using a dental crown, which is a false tooth made to look like a real tooth. That said, for back teeth that need to withstand more force, we use gold or silver. These do not blend with real teeth while composite resin and porcelain, which are used in the front, do. If multiple teeth are extracted, we can use dental bridges or partial dentures. Again, these do look like real teeth and there are multiple types available. For more information on dental extractions, call (815) 578-1000. |
