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You’re in safe hands hereMills Road Dental is a QIP Approved Dental Clinic with friendly, experienced Australia-trained dentists Dr Aran Moorthy and Dr Anthony Poli.
This dental information has been medically reviewed by Australian dental surgeon Dr Aran Moorthy, BDS. Dr Moorthy obtained his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Adelaide. Read more about Dr Moorthy here >
A tooth extraction (a.k.a. teeth pulling or tooth removal) is the removal of a tooth from the socket in your jawbone. Sometimes, teeth need to be removed for a variety of necessary health reasons.
Tooth extractions
You might need a tooth extractions for any of the following reasons:
- Damage – The tooth is irreparable through bad cracks, chips that cannot be repaired through fillings or crowns
- Infection – Occasionally a tooth may become badly infected right to the pulp and cannot be saved through root canal treatment or medications.
- Overcrowding – Some clients have teeth that are too crowded for their small mouth and need to create more space by removing one or more teeth, then realigning them through orthodontic work.
- Gum disease – Advanced periodontal disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, loosening them over time. In such cases, extraction may be necessary.
- Financial concerns – A patient that may require extensive and costly dental work to save a tooth may not be able to afford the expense. Extraction may be the most sensible course of action to prevent the risk of infection or further damage.
All surgical procedures carry risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Mills Road Dental provide tooth extraction procedures to patients in Gosnells, Martin, Kenwick, Maddington, Orange Grove, Rolleystone, Kelmscott, Camillo, Champion Lakes, Huntingdale, Harrisdale, Southern River, Thornlie and Lesmurdie.
FAQs
What is tooth extraction?
Also known as tooth pulling, tooth extraction is where the dentist removes your natural tooth from the jawbone.
Do I need my tooth extracted?
We recommend you discuss the option of tooth extraction with your dentist. After inspection, your dentist will give you the pros and cons of the procedure (as well as discussing pain relief or even sedation options) and together, you can make an educated decision.
How long does it take to pull a tooth out?
Pulling a tooth out, providing it is a ‘simple extraction’ (meaning: the tooth has already erupted through the gum line in the mouth) is usually fairly straightforward, taking only 15 minutes. However, your appointment will be longer as you will need time to be thoroughly numbed up with anaesthetic before your procedure and a little bit of time afterwards, to recover. Your dentist is likely to advise you rest at home for approximately three days so that the wound can clot and heal.
What is a dry socket?
In about 2% of all tooth extraction cases, some client experience a dry socket, which is where the clot removes itself from the wound. Dry socket can be particularly painful, so if you experience throbbing pain, a nasty taste in your mouth and bad breath, call your dentist immediately. To avoid such a condition, be very gentle with your mouth, avoiding chewing food, spitting, or vigourously rinsing or sucking.
Will extracting a tooth cure periodontal disease?
No. You may need to have a tooth removed if you have periodontal disease (as an irreparably damaged tooth may be a result of periodontal disease), but this will not treat the underlying disease. Depending on how bad your gum disease is, you may need periodontal surgery or scaling and root planning.
Does getting your teeth pulled out hurt?
Tooth extraction is not nearly as painful as you would think. Your dentist will give you plenty of medication to thoroughly numbed the area for you won’t feel a thing. Afterwards, you may feel some pain in the socket, but you will be given adequate pain medication to cover this.
Will I be awake during my tooth extraction?
Usually, all you will need is local anaesthetic for your tooth extraction. If you are extremely nervous, however, you may request sedation so that you are completely relaxed – or even asleep – at the time of your procedure. Please talk to your dentist about sedation options if you are at all concerned.
Talk to us about tooth extraction today!
Health insurance rebates available. Check with your provider for more details.