Multiple Teeth Extractions in Silver Spring, Md.
If there’s anything worse than having one tooth removed, it’s having many teeth removed at the same time! Not to worry. If you need multiple teeth extracted, you can count on Dr. Allen Gotora and the team at Stellar Dental for a safe procedure and help with a quick recovery!
Why would someone need multiple teeth extracted?
There are a few situations where more than one tooth must be removed.
Removing wisdom teeth
The wisdom teeth are the teeth that come in way in the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth often come in “impacted.” This means that they don’t emerge properly from underneath the gums. This can be very painful, but it can be bad for your oral health. It can be difficult to keep these teeth clean, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. An impacted tooth can cause crowding in the mouth, which can harm other teeth.
It is usually advised to have all four of your wisdom teeth pulled at one time. It is advised that they be removed before they start to bother you. And, the younger the patient is when these teeth are removed, the better. Studies show that the longer a patient waits to have them removed, the greater their risk for problems such as gum disease.
Removing teeth for braces
Before getting braces, many people have to have teeth removed. Sometimes, a patient’s mouth is too crowded and straightening teeth with braces just isn’t possible if teeth don’t have any room to be moved into the correct position.
If you need teeth removed before getting braces, the first teeth to go will be the wisdom teeth. If this won’t provide enough room in the mouth, your dentist or orthodontist will have to decide which other teeth will have to be pulled.
Removing teeth because of decay
Another common reason that more than one tooth has to be removed at one time is because the teeth have a lot of decay. Your dentist has a lot of different ways to try to save a tooth with decay. He can try a filling, a crown, bonding or a veneer. A root canal can save a tooth that is infected. However, sometimes the decay is just too bad to save a tooth.
Removing teeth because of gum disease
Plaque, that icky film that you can feel on your teeth at the end of the day, can be removed from teeth by brushing and flossing. However, if plaque builds up on teeth, it hardens into something called tartar. Tartar can only be removed at your dentist’s office with special tools. If tartar is allowed to build up, then the patient will get gum disease. Gum disease can result in bad breath, pus between the gums and teeth and red, puffy gums. If it isn’t treated, it can result in teeth becoming loose, and your dentist may advise extraction.
What is the procedure for tooth extraction?
Before Dr. Gotora extracts your teeth, he will numb the area with local anesthetic. If the tooth is impacted, he will cut away any gum and bone tissue over the tooth, and then he will gently rock the tooth back and forth to loosen it. If the tooth is hard to pull, Dr. Gotora may have to remove it in pieces. Dr. Gotora may place self-dissolving stitches in the extraction site. Blood clots will begin to form in the sockets, and he will place a gauze pad over the site to help stop the bleeding.
What is recovery like after multiple tooth extraction?
It will take a few days to recover from having multiple teeth pulled. You will be more comfortable and recover more quickly if you follow the instructions that Dr. Gotora gives you. Make sure you take any prescribed antibiotics, get lots of rest, and try to brush and floss as best you can to help prevent infection. If you have severe bleeding, pain, or swelling hours after the procedure, you should call Dr. Gotora right away.
Should I replace my missing teeth?
If you had teeth extracted because of tooth decay or gum disease, you should be considering how you want to replace your missing teeth, such as with an implant, a bridge or a fixed bridge.
It is important that you do something about missing teeth. The other remaining teeth will soon start shifting into the empty spaces, which can affect the shape of your face, your bite and how you chew.
Whether you need to have one or many teeth removed, you can trust Dr. Gotora and the team at Stellar Dental. There are two Stellar Dental locations to serve you — one at Silver Spring and one at Hyattsville. Call (301) 754-1900 to make an appointment at Silver Spring Office & (301) 853-1567 to make an appointment at Hyattsville Office today!
