Dr. Rebecca Benedict is a restorative and general dentist who provides oral surgery and dental extractions for patients in Tampa, FL. Sometimes, a broken or infected tooth cannot be saved. If a dental infection affects the whole tooth, removing the problem tooth can save adjacent teeth.
Over time, a severe tooth infection can spread throughout the entire mouth. Removing wisdom teeth can also prevent overcrowding and tooth damage. Tooth extraction is one of the general dentistry treatments we provide to the public in Tampa.
Types of Tooth Extractions in Tampa, FL
There are two main types of dental extractions to remove teeth.
- Simple: This type of dental extraction removes teeth above the gum line. It is much simpler to remove these teeth, and we can remove teeth above the gum line in mere minutes.
- Complex: Surgical or complex dental extractions remove teeth at or below the gum line. It will take longer to remove these teeth, and we may need to remove them in sections.
We will recommend dental implant treatment if we remove a permanent tooth that is not a wisdom tooth. Dental implants replace missing teeth at the root.
Do You Need to Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear. These teeth typically appear behind the back molars in patients’ late teens or early 20s. Wisdom teeth can cause many problems for patients if they are impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth do not have enough room to grow properly. As a result, wisdom teeth can dig into other permanent teeth and may even grow sideways.
Removing wisdom teeth can prevent overcrowding, crooked teeth, and permanent tooth damage. Call us if you notice pain or feel bone behind your back molars, and we can help you schedule your wisdom tooth extraction.
Post-Extraction Care
Once we remove a tooth, we clean the empty socket and fill it with gauze. This gauze helps protect the socket and promote healing. Keeping gauze at the tooth socket can prevent problems like dry sockets. Over time, a blood clot forms at the extraction site. If the clot is dislodged, you can experience a dry socket, meaning the nerves and bone beneath the tooth are exposed. Contact us if you experience sharp pain or increased swelling; we can help.
Contact Us Today
Are your wisdom teeth emerging? Do you have a sensitive or painful tooth? You may need a dental extraction. Call Dr. Benedict today at 813-733-6981. You may also request a dental appointment with Dr. Benedict and her dental team on our website.