Every tooth serves an important role in your mouth. Extraction of a
single functional tooth causes a great burden for your remaining teeth. When enough teeth are
missing, stresses can cause fractures or shifting in your remaining
teeth, or breakdown of supporting bone and gums.
However, there are teeth that should be removed, because they are not restorable from
gum disease, decay or trauma. We use very conservative methods for
gentle removal of teeth, and work hard to ensure your comfort during and after the procedure. If
the tooth to be removed is in a visible area we make every conscious effort to have a
replacement at time of removal or shortly after.
Oral hygiene is very important, even after surgery. Following the instructions below
can help promote proper healing and hygiene. You can download post-op instructions here.
1. Try not to rinse your mouth on the day of surgery to avoid dislodging the blood clot. (You can still eat and drink, though!)
2. Beginning the day following your surgery, rinse your mouth gently with a
solution of 1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a large glass of water. Repeat after every meal or
snack for seven days. Rinsing is important
because it removes food particles and debris from the socket area and
thus helps prevent infection and promote healing. Brush your tongue daily
with a toothbrush to keep bacteria growth down, but be careful not to
touch the extraction site.
