Tooth Extraction Services Oak Lawn

Extraction – the Last Resort

Our dental office in Oak Lawn, Illinois will do all we can to preserve and sustain all your teeth. We’ll help you maintain healthy gums and teeth through dental well care, and support your oral home health regimen. We’ll show you how oral care fits into your overall wellness, and teach you what you need to keep your family’s oral healthy top notch. When that’s not enough, we offer fillings, crowns, gum treatment and other treatment. When the tooth can’t be repaired, or infection is a recurring problem we recommend extraction. Simple Extraction is removal of a tooth from its socket in your jaw bone. When we can see the tooth from the mouth, we can perform simple extraction comfortably by loosening the tooth from its base and using forceps to remove it under local anesthetic.

Mechanical reasons for tooth extraction.

• A Tooth blocking other teeth from coming in naturally, such as baby teeth that don’t fall out as permanent teeth are developing.
• Extractions may be needed to enable proper alignment of remaining teeth before braces.

Medical reasons for tooth extraction

Also, medical reasons may prompt extraction for some .  For example, people receiving radiation treatment to the head and neck may need extraction of teeth in the line of radiation. Organ transplant patients may need tooth extraction because the medication taken for transplant put teeth at risk of infection. If you’re expecting to have any major treatment, we’ll be happy to discuss dental considerations with you fully.

We’ll help you make the best choice for wisdom teeth

When wisdom teeth, also called third molars, remain asymptomatic, we follow them through dental well care and X-rays. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw, and remain below the gum line without notice. However, wisdom teeth may also irritate the gums, causing pain and swelling. If they are decayed, cause pain or develop cysts or infection, they need to be removed. We evaluate for all treatment options including extraction. Every case is evaluated individually. For more complex cases, such as impacted teeth, a broken tooth, teeth affecting the sinuses, or extractions requiring bone excision, we’ll refer you to an oral surgeon for consultation.

Tips to minimize your discomfort and speed recovery after extraction

• Place ice packs on your face to reduce swelling. Alternate 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
• Eat soft and cool foods for a few days.
• Starting 24 hours after surgery, swish with warm salt water. Use one-half teaspoon of salt in a cup of water warm to the touch, but not hot.
• You should not smoke, use a straw or spit after surgery. These actions can pull the blood clot out of the hole where the tooth was and prolong recovery.