Tooth Extractions
You and Dr. Huang or Dr. Ngan may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, Drs. Huang or Ngan will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth.
The Tooth Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.
Sectioning a Tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.
Pediatric Dental Extractions or Surgical Procedures
Children are extremely special! Our office is aware that they require extra time and effort, therefore they are not to be treated with the same approach as adult patients. Here in Flushing Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we are particularly aware and intentional of every step we take in treating these young customers. In general, the day of consultation (first visit) is not the day of surgery. We are especially mindful of the fact that children must familiarize with the new environment and trust the doctor and staff in order for us to work on them. Parents or legal guardians (not grandparents or relatives unless they are the legal guardians) will receive detailed information on the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. Occasionally we may need to confirm the treatment plans with your referring doctor prior to the surgery. The guardians will also receive detailed instruction on how to prepare the patient on the week of, the day prior, and the day of surgery to ensure that we are caring for the child as a whole team. If the legal guardian is not available on the day of surgery, he or she must sign a guardian-release form (our office will provide the form at your request prior to the date of surgery) so that the escort can bring the signed form with the child on the date of procedure. Rarely, when the child is extremely difficult to manage, we will refer the child to a local hospital oral surgery team for further care.
After Tooth Extraction
For details on home care after tooth extraction, see the page “After Extractions” under “Surgical Instructions”.