Tooth Extractions

You and Dr. Pashkowsky may determine that you need a tooth extraction. Teeth are removed either because they have failed (fractured, severely decayed, severe bone loss) or because they are impacted and there is insufficient space for them in your jaw bone like with wisdom teeth. Typically, an impacted tooth does not need to be replaced, but a functional tooth does. The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint (TMJ), and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, so it is important to have a complete treatment plan in mind whenever you are having a tooth extracted. Dr. Pashkowsky will discuss all of this with you and in certain circumstances replacement of the extracted tooth will be recommended.

Tooth Extraction Anesthetic Options & experience

Comfort and safety of our patients is our paramount goal. We offer local anesthesia (numbing medicine), nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and IV sedation (twilight sleep to deep sedation) at our state-of-the-art facility. At your consultation, you’ll decide your preference of anesthesia with Dr. Pashkowsky.

If you select only local anesthesia, you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal. You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected. 

If you select nitrous oxide (laughing gas), you will feel pressure similar to with just local anesthesia, but the gas can help to make you feel less anxious. With nitrous oxide you will be awake and aware of everything going on around you. 

If you select IV sedation, you will be asleep during your procedure. Sedation ranges from “twilight sleep” to deep sedation/general anesthesia. Twilight sleep is a light sleep where you may remember some noises or sounds but everything is foggy and you will feel calm and relaxed. With deep sedation and general anesthesia, you will be asleep and when you wake up the procedure will be over. You will be a bit groggy and will need to take it easy for the rest of the day. There are certain safety restrictions with IV sedation, such as: you can’t have anything to eat/drink for 8 hours prior to the procedure, you will have to have an adult drive you to and from your appointment, and you cannot drive for 24hrs after receiving sedation. 

Sectioning a Tooth

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is firmly anchored in its socket, brittle like with a root canal treated tooth, or if the root is curved. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time. 

After Tooth Extraction

For details on home care instructions, click here.