Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are sometimes necessary in advanced cases of gum disease, because of tooth decay, when a tooth is broken, or to prevent or repair other issues such as with wisdom teeth removal and orthodontics.

Tooth extractions involve the complete removal of a primary or a permanent tooth. A tooth extraction can be surgical or non-surgical depending on the difficulty of the extraction and whether or not the tooth is impacted (below the gum) or erupted (above the gum), and whether it has straight or curved roots. No one looks forward to a tooth extraction, but modern anesthesia and a variety of sedation modalities will help keep you comfortable and calm throughout the procedure.

Dr. Reese may recommend a tooth extraction for any of the following reasons:

Advanced Gum (Periodontal) Disease
An abscessed tooth that cannot be saved
Tooth decay too deep to save the tooth
A broken tooth at the gum line that cannot be saved
Wisdom Teeth (Third Molars, which are typically impacted)

Additionally, some orthodontic cases require that one or more teeth be extracted for the correct alignment, occlusion (bite), and TMJ movement. While prevention of tooth loss is preferred, tooth extraction sometimes cannot be avoided.

"While there have been many advances in modern dentistry that allow us to save teeth that we could not have previously, sometimes an extraction is still necessary. However, these same advances also allow for improvements to replace the missing teeth such as bridges, partial dentures, or dental implants, which are necessary to prevent teeth from shifting and causing additional problems in the future."
—Dr. Ted Reese

Dr. Reese will be able to go over your options when he reviews your treatment with you. Many times a dental implant can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction. Ask Dr. Reese for details or call our office in Indianapolis, just north of Greenwood, Indiana to make an appointment at 317-882-0228.

Tooth Extractions