Tooth Extractions in Albuquerque, NM
At Sunshine Dental in Albuquerque, NM, we aim to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible. Unfortunately, removing a tooth is sometimes necessary to protect your overall dental health. When a tooth becomes too infected or damaged for root canal therapy or gum disease treatment, a tooth extraction may be the best solution. Fortunately, with Dr. Jaime, tooth extractions are nothing to fear! Using specialized dental tools, patient-centered techniques, and compassionate care, Dr. Jaime can make the process as comfortable as possible.
Oral surgery is one of the oldest dental professions, and over the years, dentists have honed their skills to provide safe and effective care. At Sunshine Dental, Dr. Jaime has been treating patients since 1999 and continues to stay up to date with the latest techniques. For comfortable and effective dental treatment in Albuquerque, NM, trust Dr. Jaime with your smile.
Understanding Tooth Extractions
A dental extraction is the act of removing a troublesome tooth from its socket to protect your smile. While extractions are always a last resort, they’re also an important part of dental care that’s often essential to keep your smile healthy!
You may be in need of a tooth extraction if you’re experiencing any of the following issues:
- Severe tooth decay
- Advanced gum disease
- Split (or fractured) teeth
- Overcrowding
- Problematic wisdom teeth
Dr. Jaime routinely handles tooth extractions. If you believe you may need an extraction, contact Sunshine Dental as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
Types of Tooth Extractions
At Sunshine Dental, Dr. Jaime uses advanced technology to provide the best results. For a tooth extraction, she has a specialized tool called the Piezotome Cube! This machine uses high-frequency vibrations to carefully cut bone while sparing your soft tissues. With a Piezotome Cube, Dr. Jaime can minimize trauma caused by extraction and even accelerate your healing.
Depending on your needs, she will use one of two types of tooth extraction.
Simple Extraction
When a tooth is easily accessible, Dr. Jaime will use a simple extraction.
This process involves using a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and the surrounding area. Then, using dental forceps, Dr. Jaime will loosen the tooth in its socket. With one careful pull, she’ll gently remove the tooth in one piece.
Surgical Extraction
When a tooth is less accessible, a surgical extraction may be necessary.
If a tooth is only partially erupted from the gums, impacted, or otherwise difficult to access, Dr. Jaime will use the Piezotome Cube to expose it carefully. This procedure involves cutting into gum and bone tissue to reveal your troublesome tooth. Then, if she still can’t extract it. Dr. Jaime will split the tooth into smaller sections and remove them one at a time.
While a surgical extraction is more invasive than a simple extraction, the Piezotome Cube helps to make it more comfortable.
Recovery After Tooth Extractions
While tooth extractions have a relatively short healing period, proper recovery is crucial. This is especially true for a surgical extraction, as you may need more time to heal. Fortunately, Dr. Jaime will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions.
First, keep your extraction site clean. For the first 24 hours, avoid brushing your teeth. Then, gently brush (avoiding any areas with stitches) and rinse with mouthwash. If Dr. Jaime prescribed any medications for you, be sure to take them as directed. Otherwise, over-the-counter pain relievers should do the trick, and intermittent ice packs help reduce swelling.
For the first few days post-extraction, avoid any strenuous activity. Additionally, it’s important to never use a straw within the first week after a tooth extraction. As your site heals, a blood clot forms in your socket to promote recovery. A straw can easily dislodge this blood clot, causing pain and potentially a condition known as dry socket.
By carefully following these recovery tips, you can experience a comfortable extraction process that typically heals in less than a week.
Replacing Missing Teeth With Dental Implants
After your surgical site heals, Dr. Jaime recommends replacing your missing tooth. While one lost tooth may not seem like a big deal, missing teeth actually has a significant effect on your overall quality of life.
Natural teeth have roots that stimulate your jawbone when you chew. Without this stimulation, your jaw will gradually resorb, losing mass and volume over time. As the jaw shrinks, patients often experience shifting teeth, difficulties chewing, and even issues replacing teeth with dental implants down the line.
By restoring teeth with dental implants, you can replace tooth roots and stop bone resorption!
Dental implants are titanium screws that anchor in your jawbone to support artificial teeth. Thanks to their biocompatible design, these implants bond with your bone over time, forming an incredibly strong connection.
At Sunshine Dental, Dr. Jaime uses mini dental implants to restore your smile. Mini implants are the smaller version of conventional implants, but with just as much stability. Using a minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Jaime can place your implants and restore your smile with a temporary restoration on the same day. Then, in just a few weeks, you can enjoy a final crown, bridge, or denture to replace your missing teeth.
Experience Comfortable Care at Sunshine Dental
When your teeth are too far gone for saving, a tooth extraction may be your best option. At Sunshine Dental in Albuquerque, NM, Dr. Jaime uses gentle techniques and patient-centered solutions to remove your troublesome teeth. Then, after a period of healing, she will quickly and effectively replace your missing teeth with mini dental implants!
Book a free consultation at Sunshine Dental today to discover what your smile needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
With the use of a local numbing agent, the extraction process should be relatively comfortable. Afterward, it’s common to experience some soreness, discomfort, and bleeding. But thanks to the gentle techniques Dr. Jaime uses, most patients experience a quick recovery period!
The Piezotome Cube allows patients to experience less swelling, bruising, and bleeding. Additionally, because it preserves your gum tissue, the cube also accelerates your healing process.
Within the first few days, you should be feeling mostly back to normal. If pain, bleeding, or swelling persists or worsens, come back and visit Dr. Jaime for an emergency dental appointment!
After a tooth extraction, you should wait until the numbness wears off to eat. Then, for the first 24 hours, stick to liquids or foods like applesauce, and avoid extreme temperatures. For the next few days, begin introducing more solid foods, such as mashed potatoes, pasta, and eggs. However, it’s important to chew on the opposite side of your mouth to avoid irritating your healing site.
By day 4, you should be able to eat more foods, depending on your comfort level. Softer meats and steamed vegetables should be fine, as long as they don’t hurt to chew. Then, after a week, you should be able to eat normally.
Tooth extractions are typically covered by dental insurance, but at Sunshine Dental, we only accept PPO insurance plans. Fortunately, we offer complimentary insurance checks to determine whether we’re in-network and what your insurance plan will cover.
For those without coverage, we offer flexible financing options.
Our in-house Sunshine Dental Membership Plan is an annual membership that allows patients to enjoy dental treatments at a reduced fee. This flat-rate fee covers 12 months from the date of your payment, offering quality care for patients at a more affordable price. However, it’s important to note that the Sunshine Dental Membership Plan cannot be combined with any insurance plan or other discount.
Additionally, we partner with third-party financing companies that help split your costs into manageable monthly payments. With a wide variety of plans to choose from, we help make your care affordable.
For any questions regarding insurance or financing, please don’t hesitate to contact us!