Tooth Extraction
Vancouver, BC
Gentle Extractions With a Holistic Approach to Healing
How Do You Know If You Need an Extraction?
Wisdom teeth are not always the only permanent teeth that need to be removed. Besides untreated cavities and periodontal disease, sudden trauma, impacted teeth, or an overly crowded smile may be reasons why you would need a tooth extraction. You should request a visit to our Vancouver, BC, practice if you are experiencing:
- A painful toothache
- Sudden sensitivity
- Severe swelling
- A fever
During your exam, we will determine whether your tooth can be saved or whether extraction is the better option for your oral health.
What Can Happen If You Delay Tooth Extraction?
Delaying extraction can be harmful to your overall oral and physical health.
For example, impacted wisdom teeth that are not removed can cause your other teeth to shift, creating overcrowding and misalignment. Any compromised tooth left unaddressed can lead to an infection in the gums or cause an abscess to form at the tooth root. This infection can then spread to the bloodstream and, in turn, throughout the entire body.
It is important to know when to remove your wisdom teeth or any adult tooth that is infected or causing pain.
Our Team Prioritizes Your Comfort and Healing
Deep Cleaning
Our biological treatment protocols involve removing the periodontal ligament and all infected/affected tissue from around the extraction site. Ozone is then slowly applied to the area to disinfect and oxygenate the blood and tissues. This is especially effective against the harmful anaerobic bacteria that are present in tooth and jaw bone infections.
Accelerated Healing
Our team uses platelet-rich fibrin, or PRF, in 95% of our extraction cases. PRF contains growth factors which help you heal more quickly and comfortably than conventional methods. The live white blood cells in PRF also go to work cleaning up debris and fighting infection. We're also pleased to offer ozone therapy, which promotes quicker healing after oral procedures.
Virtually Pain-Free
Although an extraction can sound scary, it is meant to relieve your pain and discomfort. In addition to local anesthesia, our team can provide oral conscious sedation or nitrous oxide sedation to help you feel at ease during the procedure.
Improve Your Oral and Overall Health
Although we will always try to save your tooth whenever possible, extracting a badly infected tooth can help improve your overall health and prevent the onset of an abscess, swelling, and even more serious, life-threatening complications.
Our Vancouver Dentists
Can Help Every Step of the Way
We help many patients achieve long-term relief from pain and other symptoms by extracting infected teeth. Rather than referring your case to outside specialists, we can extract, prepare, and replace your tooth all in one office.
To learn more about our holistic approach to dentistry, contact our Vancouver, BC, practice today. Go online or give us a call to request your tooth extraction consultation.
Infection, Gum Disease, and Decay Are Commonly Treated With Extractions
In a study of 554 tooth extractions performed at a hospital-based dental practice, results showed:
52% of extractions were due to tooth decay
36% of extractions were due to periodontal disease.
*According to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Re-Complete Your Smile
With Dental Implants and Custom Restorations
Most patients are fully healed from tooth extraction within three months. At that point, we can begin discussing the tooth replacement options available to you at our Vancouver, BC, dental office.
Dental implants provide various benefits over traditional restorations and are the recommended option for patients who qualify. We offer metal-free zirconia dental implants and implant-supported crowns, bridges, and dentures to fully restore your smile.
Implant Crowns
If you need one tooth extracted, we can use a single dental implant and a dental crown made from biocompatible materials to restore your bite and appearance.
Implant Bridges
Our Vancouver dentists can secure a dental bridge to two implants in order to fill a space left by up to four consecutive extracted teeth.
Implant Dentures
If you need extractions throughout a dental arch, our team can provide either a partial or full implant-supported denture for seamless restoration.
Our Tooth Extraction Technique Focuses on Promoting Healing
Here's what to expect when undergoing tooth extraction in Vancouver, BC, with Enlighten Dental. Our team of doctors is available to guide you through every step of your recovery.
We prioritize your comfort and health, from start to finish.
Dental Exam
Your dentist will thoroughly examine your smile and determine whether your tooth can be saved or whether tooth extraction is the best option.
Anesthetic & Sedation
If tooth extraction is necessary, your dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic. For patients who are particularly anxious about treatment, we can provide nitrous or oral sedation.
Tooth Removal
One of our dentists will gently extract your affected tooth by rocking it back and forth until it becomes loose in its socket.
Clean Socket
To remove every trace of infection, your dentist will thoroughly clean the tooth socket and remove any damaged tissue and bone.
Ozone Therapy
We will then use our office's ozone technology to disinfect the area and oxygenate the tissue.
Apply PRF
PRF contains growth factors that can help promote expedited healing and improved comfort.
What to Expect After Tooth Extraction
Immediately following your procedure, your dentist will put gauze in the treatment area and have you bite down to stop the bleeding.
Your dentist may put in stitches to close the gums over the extraction site. Otherwise, you will need to continue to switch out your gauze to stop the bleeding and promote the formation of a blood clot. Your dentist will send you home with plenty of gauze and may prescribe you pain medication as well.
Once the bleeding has stopped and a blood clot has formed, we encourage you to follow your dentist's instructions on how to care for the treatment site and prevent a dry socket.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare And Preventing Dry Socket
Recovery typically only takes a few days, and if you follow your dentist's instructions, healing should be relatively simple. You will be sent home from our Vancouver office with instructions on how to properly care for the extraction site and surrounding teeth.
The following can help manage pain and discomfort, reduce the risk of infection and dry sockets, and allow rapid recovery:
Painkillers
Take your prescribed or over-the-counter painkillers to avoid discomfort.
Ice
Apply an ice pack to help reduce swelling.
Change Your Gauze
Be sure to switch out your gauze regularly while the extraction site is still bleeding.
Stop the Bleeding
Continue to bite down on the gauze with gentle, but firm, pressure to promote the formation of a blood clot and stop the bleeding.
Avoid Rinsing or Spitting
Rinsing or spitting forcefully can dislodge the blood clot and cause a dry socket to form.
Do Not Smoke or Use a Straw
Do not drink through a straw or smoke within the first 24 hours, as this can also cause dry socket formation.
Eat Soft Foods
Foods like soup, yogurt, and applesauce can be eaten the day after the extraction, then you can slowly introduce solid food back into your diet.
Continue Routine Dental Care
Keep brushing and flossing, but be mindful to avoid the extraction site.
Thorough Use of Imaging Technology To Prevent Reinfection After Root Canal Therapy
Infection can persist deep within the root canals of a tooth. To prevent this from going unnoticed, we use 3D CT imaging to check for any underlying infection before root canal therapy is complete. Regular two-dimensional imaging often hides or poorly demonstrates the existence of infection around a tooth. A proper diagnosis is key in making an informed decision about which treatment is best for you and your overall health.
