Dental Extractions on the Upper West Side

Smiles On The Upper Westside performs dental extractions in the UWS neighborhood of NYC. Call 212-222-5225 to schedule your first appointment.

The ultimate goal of dentistry is to help patients keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. Despite this, there are some situations in which a tooth must be extracted in order to restore or maintain your oral health. We might recommend a dental extraction in the following cases:

• Your wisdom teeth are causing crowding or damage to adjacent teeth
• Your orthodontist recommends extractions to create room for orthodontic treatment
• A tooth is too damaged to repair with a crown
• A tooth has become loose due to periodontal disease and it cannot be saved
• You have a dental infection that cannot be treated with root canal therapy

Unless you need wisdom teeth removed or extractions for orthodontics, we recommend replacing your extracted tooth with a dental implant to restore function, bite strength, and the appearance of your smile.

There are two kinds of dental extractions: simple extractions and surgical extractions. If surgical extraction is required, you will be referred to an oral surgeon. These extractions are usually needed for impacted teeth. For teeth that are fully erupted, a simple extraction is all that is needed. This is a non-surgical procedure that can be performed in our office.

To ensure your comfort, we will numb your tooth and the surrounding tissue. A specialized dental tool called an elevator is used to release the tooth from the jawbone. Once the tooth is loosened, we will gently remove it from the jaw using forceps. Sutures may or may not be needed to close the gum tissue at the extraction site.

We will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions at your appointment. When the local anesthetic wears off, you’ll notice some discomfort at the extraction site. Cold compresses can help with swelling, and over-the-counter pain relievers will alleviate any discomfort. Most patients are able to return to work or school the day after a simple tooth extraction.

No, your tooth and surrounding tissue will be numbed before we begin your extraction, so you won’t feel any discomfort, though you may feel some movement and pressure. After the local anesthesia wears off, the extraction site will feel tender and sore, but this can be alleviated with cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medication.

We recommend that you wait until the local anesthetic has worn off before eating to avoid injury. Eat only soft foods for 24 to 48 hours; start slowly as you feel ready and work your way up to hard foods like nuts and crunchy foods like chips.

The best choice for restoring a missing tooth is a dental implant, however dental bridges and dentures are also an option. After an extraction, we always recommend replacing your extracted tooth to restore function and bite strength.

When one of your teeth is extracted, neighboring teeth can drift into the newly opened space, creating a domino effect in which all of the teeth in the arch begin to move. The jawbone that supported the extracted tooth will break down, which can lead to a variety of serious dental problems and facial collapse.

Call 212-222-5225 to schedule your appointment.