A tooth extraction is the complete removal of a primary or a permanent tooth. An extraction can be surgical or non-surgical, depending on the difficulty of the extraction, whether or not the tooth is impacted or erupted, and whether it has straight or curved roots. An extraction may be done at our office, or patients may be referred to an oral surgeon (someone who specializes in difficult or surgical extractions).

After the tooth has been extracted, it is important that every effort be made to thoroughly clean the bony extraction-socket using hand and rotary curettage. This process helps insure proper healing of the extraction-socket and prevention of a cavitation. Cavitations (also called osteonecrosis) are areas of infected jaw-bone, and have been linked to chronic pain in the extraction area as well as underlying health issues. Ozone water is then irrigated into the socket and ozone gas is injected into the surrounding tissues. Additionally, patents are given the option of purchasing a homeopathic remedy (“Dental Pain”) by DesBio that is custom-made using our WaveFront-3000, to be taken post-operatively. All of this has been shown to help with the healing process as well as minimizing discomfort once the anesthetic has worn off.

After an extraction is performed, our dentists will discuss replacement of the missing tooth or teeth. If the space is left open, shifting of the remaining teeth could occur which can cause bite-changes. An extracted tooth may be replaced by a temporary or permanent bridge, an implant, or by a partial or complete denture. Anyone undergoing a tooth extraction can benefit from seeing Alex for acupuncture afterwards, as this therapy can greatly reduce pain and help the body re-connect disrupted pathways.