Chicago dentists Dr. Dow and Dr. Fisher may determine that you need a tooth extraction. Extractions are necessary at times when a tooth is severely decayed, if there is severe periodontal disease, if teeth have broken, or if they are poorly positioned (like in impacted wisdom teeth, or in crowded orthodontic cases).

Our hope is to keep as many teeth in mouths as possible, and so the doctors will offer alternatives to extraction where appropriate. In the event an extraction is necessary, Drs. Dow and Fisher will do everything to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Local anesthesia will be given until adequate numbness is achieved. Once appropriately numbed, you may still feel significant pressure from the procedure, but the anesthesia removes any painful feelings. This is due to the way anesthesia blocks pain signals from traveling from the tooth, up the nerve, to the brain where these sensations are processed. 

If teeth are firmly anchored in their sockets, or if the roots of teeth curve, they may require sectioning. This involves drilling the tooth into smaller sections that can then be removed one at a time. 

Once complete, the doctors will go over post-operative instructions to help minimize post-operative discomfort. Patients will be instructed on how to clean, how to eat, and things to avoid, so that you can be pain-free in as short a time as possible.

The Tooth Extraction Process

At the time of extraction Chicago Dentists Drs. Dow or Fisher will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.

During the extraction process 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 do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.

Sectioning a tooth

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

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