Dr. James McAndrews Dr. Dennis-Duke Yamashita Dr. Ian Woo
10601 Paramount Boulevard
Downey, California 90241
(562) 923-7257
 

dental extractions

There are a number of reasons why your dentist might recommend that you have a tooth, or even several teeth, extracted. Your general dentist is the best person to discuss the prognosis of a decayed or fractured tooth. Dental extractions are done when repairing the tooth is not possible. The oral and maxillofacial surgeon has extensive training and experience in performing dental extractions from the simplest to the more complex cases.

The most common reason for extraction is tooth damage due to breakage or decay. Listed below are some additional reasons for a dental extraction(s):

  • Severe gum disease (periodontal disease) which may affect the supporting tissues and bone structures of teeth.
  • Severe infection (acute or chronic alveolar abscess).
  • Prosthetics; teeth detrimental to the fit or appearance of dentures.
  • Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.
  • People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
  • People receiving radiation to the head and neck may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
  • People receiving cancer drugs may develop infected teeth. These drugs weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infection. Infected teeth may need to be extracted.
  • People receiving an organ transplant may need some teeth extracted if the teeth could become sources of infection after the transplant. People with organ transplants have a high risk of infection because they must take drugs that decrease or suppress the immune system.
  • Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. They need to be removed if they are decayed or cause pain. Some wisdom teeth are blocked by other teeth or may not have enough room to come in completely. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth must be removed.

Please bring a written referral from your dentist that explains to us which tooth requires removal and any pertinent information regarding your medical and dental history. At your consultation, we will provide you with appropriate anesthesia or sedation options and all your questions will be answered about what option is best for you. Occasionally a single or multiple dental extractions can be done in our office under local anesthesia in a single visit without a separate consultation appointment. For more extensive work, IV sedation or general anesthesia will be the best option.

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