Sometimes, the best way to preserve bone is to extract a tooth and place a dental implant. Trained at the University of Southern California periodontics program and with over 20 years in specialty dental practice, Dr. Deborah K. Ruprecht, DDS has extensive experience in tooth extraction and knows when this option is needed. If you live in the area of Newport Beach, California, and need one or more teeth extracted, call us today at 949-833-2263 or go online to schedule your visit.
Tooth Extraction Q&A
Why would I need to have a tooth extracted?
There are various reasons you might need to have a tooth removed, including:
- Advanced decay and frequent toothache
- Damage from trauma
- Crowding
- Infection
- To prepare for chemotherapy or an organ transplant
What happens during a surgical tooth extraction?
In some cases, a tooth can be removed without having to penetrate the gums. In many instances, however, a tooth is mostly or fully covered by your gum tissue and surgical extraction is the best option.
You will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. Dr. Ruprecht also offers sedation dentistry if you need additional support to relax during your visit.
The next step is to access the surrounding surface of the tooth. Once Dr. Ruprecht is able to gain movement on the tooth, she will grasp the tooth with surgical tools and maneuver it free. It may be necessary to section the tooth into smaller pieces for easier extraction.
PRF: Your own healing power
Dr. Ruprecht also incorporates platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) into extraction sites to enhance the healing process. This innovation uses a small amount of your own blood that is placed into an FDA-approved IntraSpin™ device.
Within a few minutes, Dr. Ruprecht has a powerful biomaterial made of your own platelets and growth factors to apply to your tissue for accelerated healing.
How long does it take to recover after a surgical tooth extraction?
Each person’s body responds differently to oral surgery, and it is important to rest and follow directions during your recovery period. You will be given complete instructions for post-operative care that include resting and taking care not to disturb the extraction site.
Dr. Ruprecht will prescribe pain medication, natural healing supplements and antibiotics as needed. In addition to remaining in contact with you following surgery, she will schedule one or more follow-up visits to monitor your healing and guide the next steps in your treatment plan.
If you need a tooth extraction due to decay, trauma, crowding or any of the other reasons listed here, call us today or request an appointment with Dr. Ruprecht online.