Tooth Extraction – St. Peters, MO

With daily brushing and flossing at home and dental checkups scheduled at least every six months with Dr. Cayo, you just might be able to hang on to all of your teeth for a lifetime. However, there are certain circumstances that require tooth extraction in St. Peters. If you have one or multiple teeth that must be removed, then you can put your confidence and the future appearance of your smile in Dr. Cayo’s capable and gentle hands. She performs tooth extractions with skill, compassion and dedication to your comfort.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are also called third molars. They are the very last molars to develop and are located to the rear of all your other teeth. In many people, these teeth are quite large and often do not erupt through the gum, but remain impacted. Some people, however, have visible wisdom teeth. But whether they are impacted or erupted, wisdom teeth are often set at an angle against adjacent teeth, which can lead to pain. Even when wisdom teeth erupt correctly, they usually take up more room than your jaw can comfortably accommodate. Therefore, extraction is often recommended.

After anesthetizing the site, Dr. Cayo makes an incision in your gums in order to remove the tooth. Forceps are used when possible, but sometimes a wisdom tooth must be sectioned for removal.

Multiple Tooth Extractions

Some patients need to have several teeth removed at one time. The reason may be genetics, severe decay or traumatic injury. In this case, Dr. Cayo will go over the procedure at the time of your appointment, and she will tell you about replacement options to rebuild your smile.

Multiple tooth extractions may also be recommended if you or your child have teeth that are misaligned or overcrowded. In this case, extraction is schedule before orthodontic treatment, so there is adequate room for remaining teeth to align.

Extraction Site Preservation

A dental implant is the best way to replace a missing tooth. However, once your tooth is extracted, the bone tissue may begin to weaken, and this can affect your jaw’s ability to anchor an implant. To prevent this there is extraction site preservation. A grafting material is used to fortify the bone around your missing tooth. In this way, the jaw will have the needed bone volume to support a dental implant.

Post-Operative Care

After tooth extraction, there are specific instructions that you will need to follow in order to keep the site clean and promote healing. These include:

• Bite gently but firmly on a gauze pad, so bleeding slows and a blood clot forms at the extraction site
• Rest and limit activity for a day or two after extraction
• Eat soft foods and chew on the side of your mouth that did not have extractions
• Take painkillers on time to stay ahead of discomfort
• Use an icepack—20 minutes on, 20 minutes off—to reduce swelling
• Don’t drink from a straw, because suction could dislodge blood clots
• Maintain oral hygiene, but don’t brush around the extraction site
• If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office