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(281) 516-8575
Whether you have a damaged tooth that cannot be saved with a treatment like a root canal or your wisdom teeth are growing in improperly and are causing you pain and discomfort, Dr. Morrison can help with gentle extractions in Chevy Chase and Gaithersburg. To learn more or schedule your appointment, contact us today!
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Most commonly, you may need a tooth extraction if your wisdom tooth is not growing in properly. The wisdom teeth come in between the ages of 17-25, and our mouths often don’t have room for them. Because of this, your wisdom teeth may grow in sideways or fail to erupt completely. This can cause symptoms like pain around your rear teeth and inflammation of the gums.
You may also need a tooth extraction if you have an infected tooth that cannot be saved with a root canal. Signs of this include a painful toothache, discoloration of your tooth, and swelling around the tooth. If your tooth is severely cracked or broken off near the gum line due to oral trauma and can’t be treated with a dental crown, it may also need to be extracted.
More rarely, extractions may be needed for orthodontic reasons. If you have a very crowded mouth, you may need to have one or more teeth extracted before you can have orthodontic treatment.
Infected or damaged teeth can cause significant pain or discomfort and tooth extractions give you relief from this pain. In addition, tooth extractions can be used to prepare for a restorative treatment like a dental crown or dental implant, allowing you to restore your smile.
Tooth extractions also help prevent further complications. A seriously-infected tooth, for example, could lead to sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. Extracting it will prevent the infection from spreading.
It usually takes about two weeks to fully heal from having a tooth pulled. You will need to follow a diet of soft foods for about a week after your procedure, and follow Dr. Morrison’s instructions to make sure you do not damage or dislodge your blood clot as your mouth heals.
Most patients experience some discomfort and pain after tooth extraction, but this will subside within a few days of the procedure.
This depends on the number of teeth that are being pulled, their location in your mouth, and whether a basic or surgical tooth extraction is required. For an accurate estimate, we recommend contacting Morrison Cosmetic & General Dentistry to schedule a consultation with Dr. Morrison.
