Dr. David Lee always strives to preserve and restore the natural structure of your teeth. However, extensive disease, decay, or trauma may lead to a medically necessary tooth extraction. Dental extractions are required for a variety of reasons including: extensive tooth decay (cavities), impacted or symptomatic wisdom teeth, advanced periodontal disease, over-retained baby teeth, or severe crowding in order to help make space for orthodontic treatment (braces). We do most extractions here in our office, helping to avoid extra costs and time associated with a referral.
Wisdom teeth are your third molars, located in the very back of your mouth, and they usually begin to appear between the ages of 16-25. Wisdom teeth often grow unnoticed, but can begin to cause problems as they become larger. Some wisdom teeth are impacted and can affect the other teeth in your mouth. Because wisdom teeth are so far back in your mouth they are often difficult to keep clean so it is very easy for them to develop large cavities which, in turn, can become painful. While we do extract wisdom teeth in office, we will recommend an oral surgeon for more complicated procedures.
While it may be scary to hear that you need a tooth pulled, our compassionate dental team uses gentle techniques, modern technology, and anxiety-reducing sedatives. This ensures that our patients experience a pain-free extraction with minimal risk of complications.
The first step in the removal process is to tell Dr. David Lee if you’ll require anxiety-reducing sedatives, such as oral sedatives. If so, our dentists will write you a prescription for an oral sedative that you must pick up at a pharmacy of your choosing and take before your appointment.
Next, Dr. David Lee will administer a local anesthesia to numb the extraction site. Once you are relaxed and sufficiently numb, our dentists will skillfully remove the damaged tooth. Teeth extractions can be completed very quickly and painlessly.
After your tooth has been removed, our dentists will either pack the extraction site with gauze or close the wound with a few, small stitches. At this point, our dental team will monitor you to ensure that the sedatives are wearing off before letting a friend or family member drive you home.
In most cases, a tooth extraction is used only as a last resort if other restorative dental procedures are unsuccessful. Common reasons why you might need a tooth pulled include:
At Route 40 Family Dental, our team prioritizes your health. Therefore, we will only recommend a tooth extraction if we have exhausted all other options. For some patients, tooth removal may be the best solution to improve their quality of life and save their oral health.
At Route 40 Family Dental, we will also discuss the ways we can replace the tooth before moving forward. Dental implants, bridges, or dentures, may be good options for replacing the missing tooth and we will be sure to discuss the benefits of each of them as we figure out the best choice for you moving forward to restore your smile!
While our immediate concern is the short-term management of your care, we will also discuss your long-term plans for replacing missing teeth. Leaving a space is always an option, but spaces in your smile can create appearance and function challenges that are important to consider. Teeth slowly shift or migrate into open spaces and minimizing the effects of an unbalanced bite now can prevent issues later in life.
In general, tooth extractions are very safe. However, there are some cases in which a patient should disclose past medical history to our dental team to ensure patient safety. For example, our dentists need to know if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, please let our dental team know immediately. Knowing this information will help us mitigate complications, ensuring a safe and successful extraction.
Proper aftercare is extremely important following an extraction. To reduce the risk of infection and improve recovery:
Once the wound is fully healed, patients have a wide variety of tooth-replacement options to choose from, such as dental implants, bridges, or dentures. It is essential to replace a missing tooth to prevent damage to other teeth from biting forces/uneven pressure, avoid tilting or shifting of remaining teeth into the gap.
You’ve come to the right place! Give Route 40 Family Dental a call or book your appointment online today to see how we can help with your extraction needs. Dr. Lee will perform an oral evaluation and discuss all of your options with you. If an extraction is necessary, Dr. Lee will perform the procedure with your comfort in mind, going the extra mile to limit any pain.
We’re here to help! At Route 40 Family Dental, we understand the urgency associated with emergency tooth extractions. As such, we keep open slots for emergency dental appointments. Give us a call or schedule your appointment online right away. We do our best to reply at all times of the day…even after hours and on weekends!
If you need an emergency tooth extraction after hours call or text our emergency line at (202) 618-2531.
Give Route 40 Family Dental a call ASAP! Prompt dental care for an emergency tooth extraction is crucial to prevent further damage or complications. We keep open slots for emergency dental appointments so give us a call or schedule your appointment online right away. We do our best to reply at all times of the day…even after hours and on weekends!
If you need an emergency tooth extraction after hours call or text our emergency line at (202) 618-2531.
The time it takes for a tooth extraction to heal can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the type of extraction, the location of the tooth, and your overall health. In general, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for the extraction site to fully heal.
Here are the typical healing stages for a tooth extraction:
During the healing process, it’s important to follow Dr. Lee’s instructions carefully. Some things to avoid include smoking, eating hard foods, and strenuous activity. You may also be prescribed medications and/or antibiotics to help manage any discomfort or prevent infection.
If you experience any severe pain, bleeding, or other complications after a tooth extraction, contact Dr. Lee immediately.
After a tooth extraction, it’s important to be careful with what you eat and drink to prevent complications and promote healing. Here are some recommendations for what to eat and drink after a tooth extraction:
It’s important to follow Dr. Lee’s instructions carefully and avoid any foods or drinks that could interfere with healing or cause discomfort. If you experience severe pain or any other complications after a tooth extraction, contact Dr. Lee immediately.
Proper care after a tooth extraction can help promote healing and prevent complications. Here are some general guidelines for tooth extraction aftercare:
It’s important to follow your post-op instructions carefully and attend any follow-up appointments as scheduled to ensure proper healing and prevent complications.
You may experience some discomfort during a tooth extraction, but Dr. Lee will typically use local anesthesia to numb the area to minimize pain during the procedure.
After the extraction, you may experience some pain, swelling, and discomfort for a few days, but these symptoms can usually be managed with medication if necessary.
Overall, a tooth extraction should not be an excessively painful procedure, and Dr. Lee will take steps to help minimize pain and discomfort before, during, and after the procedure. It’s important to follow Dr. Lee’s instructions carefully and attend any follow-up appointments as scheduled to ensure proper healing and prevent complications.
There are several benefits of getting a dental implant after a tooth extraction:
Overall, dental implants offer a variety of benefits for individuals who have lost one or more teeth due to injury, decay, or other factors. It’s important to discuss your options with Dr. Lee to determine whether dental implants are the right choice for your individual needs and dental health.
Removing a wisdom tooth can provide several benefits for your dental health, including:
Overall, removing wisdom teeth can help improve your dental health and prevent a variety of dental problems. If you’re considering having your wisdom teeth removed, give us a call or book your consultation with Dr. Lee online today!
Of course! At Route 40 Family Dental, we understand the urgency associated with emergency wisdom tooth extractions. As such, we keep open slots for emergency dental appointments. Give us a call or schedule your appointment online right away. We do our best to reply at all times of the day…even after hours and on weekends!
If you have an emergency after hours call or text our emergency line at (202) 618-2531.
Our patients are our biggest fans. Here are a few highlights from our public reviews.
9141 Baltimore National Pike
Second Floor
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Located above St. John’s Jewelers
Monday
8:00AM – 6:00PM
Tuesday
9:00AM – 6:00PM
Wednesday
9:00AM – 6:00PM
Thursday
8:00AM – 3:00PM
Friday
By Appointment
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED
We are happy to help you book an appointment or answer your questions. Please fill out our contact form and we will get back to you shortly!