Wisdom Tooth Extraction

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What is Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extractions are treatments to remove an unsalvageable tooth. While our Highland Dentist will always try to preserve your tooth, there will be times when removal is the best option.
Dr. Shah can perform many types of extractions in the Highland Dental Office. With years of experience, he can help provide the best dental care you deserve. If the extraction turns out to be more complicated, our office can refer you to a trusted oral surgeon.

Why Teeth Need Extracting

There are a variety of reasons why a tooth might need extracting. Common reasons are:
  • Severe tooth decay
  • Gum disease that progresses to bone loss
  • A damaged or fractured tooth that’s beyond repair
  • Wisdom tooth impacting nearby teeth due to lack of space

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Signs Teeth Need Extracting

While only a dentist can decide if a tooth needs extracting, there are signs you should be aware of. First is intense discomfort and pain. Especially if you experience pain with biting down or after drinking hot or cold liquids, this could be a sign of an abscess or infection. Other emergency signs are visible puss and bleeding. If you notice any of these signs, call our emergency dentist right away.

How Are Teeth Extracted

There are several ways your tooth can be extracted. First, our dentist will make you comfortable during the procedure by numbing the area of treatment. Patients can expect to feel pressure, but otherwise, the time passing will be comfortable and relaxing. For simple extractions, the dentist will use dental tools to wiggle the tooth out of its socket. Once pulled out, there will be a thorough cleaning of the area. The dentist will apply gauze to the treatment area to stop bleeding.

Instead of feeling pain, patients can expect pain relief from an extraction. Our office can perform tooth removal by using numbing agents or sedation dentistry. Since the dentist addresses the root of your discomfort, patients should expect no pain after a few days of the treatment.

At East Highland Dental, our tooth extractions are done in a less invasive manner to maximize and shorter recovery times. Many patients recover within an hour in the office. Our team highly recommends you have someone pick you up, especially if you opted for sedation density.

Once at home, there are many things you can do to help speed up recovery. One is to get plenty of rest. Another is to make sure you drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.

Wisdom teeth are the last molars to grow out in the back of your mouth. They generally “come out” during one’s teen years or early twenties.
Having wisdom teeth removal is necessary since it’s rare for a person to have enough space in the mouth to accommodate them. With no room to grow, your wisdom teeth can grow in impacting your other teeth nearby, lead to severe pain and discomfort from your other teeth being pushed forward. Issues like this can also create spaces for food to be trapped, which will lead to increased infection and decay risk.
At East Highland Dental, we have a few recommendations to ensure a comfortable and successful surgery. First, don’t eat or drink the day of the procedure. Bring a responsible friend or family member with you. Have your pain medications nearby and ready for when you need them after the anesthesia wears off. Finally, our office will give you a list of safe foods to eat and others to avoid for the first few days after surgery.
Like regular tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removals can either be simple or surgical. If your wisdom teeth are exposed above the gum line, then a simple extraction with dental tools is done. If the wisdom teeth are below the gum line, then an incision at the gums is needed to pull them out of the sockets.
A full recovery can take about a week or two. During the first 48 hours, expect to experience bleeding, swelling, and some pressure.
A potential complication after wisdom teeth extractions is infection from bacteria exposure. To prevent, we recommend periodically rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater. Also, keeping diligent with good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing is critical as well.
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28942 Greenspot Rd Highland, CA 92346
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Phone (909) 864-2002
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Frequently Asked Questions

In the vast majority of cases, tooth extraction is a safe procedure with a relatively short recovery time. However, in some cases, the following complications might occur:

  • Nerve injury (it can be caused by removing impacted lower teeth and heals over time in most cases)
  • Sinus perforation (when removing upper molars)
  • Damage to adjacent structures, such as neighboring teeth, jawbone, or existing dental restorations

Most patients have a smooth recovery after tooth extraction if they closely follow their dentist’s post-procedure care recommendations. Otherwise, complications that might occur during recovery include:

  • Infection of the procedure site (can be caused by insufficient oral hygiene, especially if general health and immunity issues are present)
  • Dry socket (may occur when the blood clot that forms in the socket immediately after the procedure is dislodged)

Most commonly, local anesthesia is used for tooth extractions and wisdom teeth removals. It is administered via injection into the gum several minutes before the procedure. Local anesthesia is typically sufficient to completely numb the procedure area and block pain during extraction. In some cases (for example, if extraction is complicated due to the tooth’s position or you require extraction of multiple teeth), your dentist might offer sedation in addition to or instead of local anesthesia. Additionally, patients who experience acute dental anxiety or find it challenging to maintain the same position for prolonged periods may opt for sedation. 

We do offer emergency and same-day tooth extractions at our office. The most common symptoms that indicate that you may require an emergency tooth extraction include:

  • Acute toothache (in some cases, can be accompanied by fever)
  • Swelling in the gums around the tooth or swelling in the face or jaw
  • Cysts or pimples on the gum, or pus in the periodontal pockets (the spaces where the gum tissue connects to the tooth)

If you experience any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to contact our office at (909) 453-3673, and we will do our best to admit you as soon as possible.

Wisdom teeth removal is covered by the majority of dental insurance plans if the procedure is considered a medical necessity, which includes the following cases:

  • Your wisdom teeth are impacted or partially impacted (covered by the gum tissue), especially if they cause pain or recurring gum irritation.
  • Your wisdom teeth have cavities or are infected.
  • There are cysts or chronic infection of the gum tissue in the area of your wisdom teeth.
  • Your wisdom teeth pose an infection risk prior to major medical interventions.

Typically, insurance covers 50% to 80% of the total procedure cost. However, the amount covered may also depend on your specific plan, yearly maximums, and deductibles. We recommend contacting your dental office and your insurance company prior to the procedure to ensure that it will be covered.

After a tooth extraction, it is essential to let your jaw rest and to avoid damaging the procedure area. Also, it is important to avoid dislodging the blood clot that forms in the socket immediately after the extraction. That is why you should switch to a liquid diet for the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure and then adhere to a soft diet for the next 4 to 5 days or until the socket heals. Additionally, you should not use straws for drinking liquids as they create suction in the mouth and can dislodge the blood clot.