What are tooth extractions?
A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth that is not salvageable. We classify teeth in one of three types of categories: good, fair, or hopeless. Due to extensive decay, bone loss, severe infection or fractured tooth/ root (cracked tooth), a tooth would fall into the hopeless category, requiring a tooth extraction.
What are the benefits of getting a tooth extracted versus the alternative?
If an unsalvageable tooth is not removed, the area could become subject to further infection, swelling, pain, necrosis or sloughing of your entire jawbone.
Who performs a tooth extraction?
Either a dentist such as Dr. Prenzlau or an oral surgeon can perform a tooth extraction. In our dental office at the Oral Health Center, we have a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The more complex extractions are completed by the oral surgeon. In most instances, teeth that are severely broken down or covered with extensive amounts of bone (impacted wisdom teeth) need to be removed by our surgeon Dr. Guy Sharfi.
It is advantageous to have an oral surgeon on the premises for third molar/ wisdom teeth extractions. The oral surgeon can remove wisdom teeth that are totally impacted, covered partially with bone, or not even fully developed (many times the request of an orthodontist). In half an hour, the surgeon, Dr. Sharfi can skillfully remove all four wisdom teeth at once so that the patient doesn’t have to return for a subsequent appointment. One week of oral antibiotics is all that is required after four wisdom teeth extractions. Recovery usually requires not more than one week.
Who is a candidate for wisdom teeth extractions?
In most instances, any time a wisdom tooth has not grown into proper alignment with the other molar teeth, they need to be extracted. There is a huge benefit of removing wisdom teeth at a younger age as the surrounding bone is much softer and more pliable and therefore, the tooth is easier to remove. As the years progress, the bone hardens and much more bone must be removed to try to get the wisdom tooth out.
In addition to treating healthy young people with impacted wisdom teeth, we take care of a wide range of patients with severely decayed and infected teeth. In these cases of “hopeless teeth,” tooth extraction is the only path to pursue.
Procedure for tooth extraction
The procedure for tooth extraction varies. Many times, we can perform a tooth extraction non-surgically. We remove the damaged tooth without placing sutures, and healing is uneventful. The minute there’s any type of semi-impaction or impaction, the oral surgeon must open up the area, remove some bone, and skillfully remove parts of the tooth until it’s completely extracted. In many instances, the surgeon can take the tooth out in one piece if the bone is still soft enough.
How long does the process take for one tooth extraction versus multiple teeth?
If we are performing a single tooth extraction for a tooth that is not impacted, we generally require half an hour. With a skillful surgeon such as the Oral Health Center’s Dr. Guy Sharfi, four wisdom teeth may be removed in 30 to 45 minutes. We discharge our patients with ice packs so they can continue ice pack therapy for the first 24 hours after surgery. We place them on a week’s antibiotic regimen. In addition to routine painkillers, sometimes we also prescribe a low-dose steroid therapy to keep swelling down. Within a week, our patients are on their way.
Want more information about Tooth Extraction in Jerusalem?
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