Can a General Dentist Perform Tooth Extractions?

Thinking one or more tooth extractions are in your near future? While it is really important for you to keep your natural teeth for as long as absolutely possible, sometimes a tooth is not able to be saved. There can be a number of reasons for why a tooth extraction is necessary, with two of the more common reasons being that proper dental care was not being utilized and blunt force trauma. Whatever the reason, if you need one or more of your teeth extracted, it is essential that you make an appointment with a dental professional in order to find out the next step.

Can a general dentist perform extractions?

Yes, a general dentist can perform extractions on their patients. In fact, it tends to be a fairly common procedure. While a general dentist is perfectly capable of pulling one or more of their patient's teeth if necessary, if there are any signs of potential extraction problems, then the dentist will often refer the patient to someone more qualified to handle difficult tooth extractions.

Tooth extraction procedure

The tooth extraction procedure starts when a patient is giving an anesthetic so they will not feel anything while the procedure is being performed. The dental professional will then begin to loosen the tooth by using special instruments that release the tooth from its attachment fibers. Once the tooth is loosened, forceps will be used in order to fully extract the tooth from its socket.

Tooth extraction pain

The pain felt from having a tooth extracted can range from being very minimal to very painful, which is for the most part dependent on the type of extraction the patient needed to be performed. For example, a tooth that is extracted but has not yet broken through the gum line will require more effort in order to remove it from the mouth. While patients can expect some pain when having one or more of their teeth extracted, it tends to subside in just a few days.

Tooth extraction aftercare

Every patient who has one or more of their teeth extracted will receive specific aftercare instructions from their dental professional. Generally speaking, aftercare for a tooth extraction includes not smoking, not using a straw, not lifting anything heavy and taking an over-the-counter medication for any discomfort or pain experienced.

Need one or more of your teeth extracted?

If you are currently in need of tooth extractions, we invite you to call us today so we can understand your needs. Once we understand your particular dental situation, we can make an appointment for you and help your overall oral health. Now is the time for you to take control of your dental health!

The best part?

You can call (770) 800-0178 today to reach Lilburn Family Dentistry.