San Antonio Surgical Arts
Tooth Extractions
When a tooth cannot be saved, our board-certified surgeons perform extractions with precision and care — minimizing discomfort and supporting a smooth recovery.
You and Dr. Casillas, Dr. Gissell, Dr. Malave or Dr. Parker may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, Dr. Casillas, Dr. Gissell, Dr. Malave or Dr. Parker will discuss alternatives to extractions as well as replacement of the extracted tooth with options such as Dental Implants.
Reasons a Tooth May Need to Be Extracted
Severe Decay
When decay has destroyed too much of the tooth structure to support a crown or filling, extraction may be the only option to eliminate infection and protect surrounding teeth.
Advanced Gum Disease
Periodontal disease can loosen teeth by destroying the bone and tissue that hold them in place. Extraction removes the source of infection and allows the area to heal.
Impacted Teeth
Teeth that are poorly positioned in the mouth or trapped beneath the gum line can cause pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth. Surgical removal is the standard treatment.
Dental Trauma
A tooth that has broken in a way that cannot be repaired may not be salvageable. Extraction followed by a dental implant or other restoration restores function and appearance.
Orthodontic Preparation
Crowded teeth sometimes require one or more extractions to create the space needed for orthodontic treatment to achieve proper alignment.
The Tooth Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jaw bone 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.
After Tooth Extraction
For details on home care after tooth extraction, see the page "After Extractions" under "Surgical Instructions".