Tooth Extraction in Gulfport, MS

There are an average of 10 million wisdom tooth extractions each year in the United States. Many people assume that these are the only types of extractions dentists perform, but that is not the case. 

A tooth extraction can be necessary for many reasons, such as advanced tooth decay. Removing a decayed tooth can be a key step in regaining your quality of life when you are suffering from dental issues.

At Centre for Smile Designs, John Hopkins, DDS, provides expert tooth extraction along with a range of options for replacing an extracted tooth — often within the same appointment. 

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction is the complete removal of a tooth from its socket. Although the goal of dental care is to preserve as many natural teeth as possible, there are instances when a tooth extraction is necessary. 

Dr. Hopkins may recommend a tooth extraction if you have:

• Severe tooth decay
• Severe gum disease
• A fractured tooth
• An impacted tooth 
• Crowded teeth
• Dental injuries

There are two main types of tooth extraction procedures: simple (non-surgical) and surgical. 

A non-surgical tooth extraction is an appropriate option for teeth that are visible. During this procedure, Dr. Hopkins can grip the tooth with specialized tools that help loosen it. For this procedure, most patients only need local anesthesia. 

A surgical tooth extraction is the right choice for teeth that have not fully erupted or that are so damaged that there is nothing left above the gumline. It can also be a necessary procedure if you have teeth with long or curved roots. With a surgical tooth extraction, Dr. Hopkins makes careful incisions into your gums.

Replacing the Tooth

Once Dr. Hopkins has removed the tooth, it is essential to consider the next steps. The best option is often to replace the tooth with mini implants. 

Mini dental implants are titanium posts that fit into your gums and jawbone and on which a false tooth sits. Unlike standard dental implants, mini options do not require an extra piece — the abutment — making them easier and quicker to install. 

Benefits of Mini Dental Implants

One of the benefits of a mini dental implant after a tooth extraction is that it can help you avoid jawbone loss. 

Your jawbone depends on the roots of your teeth to stimulate the creation of new bone cells that replace the ones that regularly die. When you have a tooth extraction, you remove the entire tooth, including the root. Your jawbone no longer receives the stimulation it needs, and this leads to bone loss. 

Over time, jawbone loss can affect not only how your jaw looks, but also the health of other teeth. A mini dental implant functions like a tooth root, so it can help you avoid this problem. 

Mini dental implants also do not require as much bone density for Dr. Hopkins to fit them in place. With standard dental implants, a bone grafting procedure is frequently necessary, which can take much more time and increase costs. 

By choosing a mini dental implant, you can get same-day treatment in many cases, allowing you to get the tooth extraction and the mini dental implant at the same time.

The Tooth Extraction Procedure

If you experience pain or other signs that can point to the necessity of a tooth extraction, then it’s time to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hopkins at Centre for Smile Designs. 

During the consultation, he will assess the treatment area and take X-rays using a state-of-the-art CBCT machine. Using these images, he will be able to decide on the right treatment option, including what kind of tooth extraction procedure can best suit your needs and whether you have already had some bone loss. 

The Day of the Procedure

For the non-surgical tooth extraction procedure, you will receive local anesthesia, but if you have dental anxieties, you can also ask about sedation options. Surgical tooth extraction may require other types of anesthesia.

Dr. Hopkins will tell you about the costs you can expect from a tooth extraction and a mini dental implant, if that is part of the treatment. At Centre for Smile Designs, you have many payment options, including Care Credit, allowing you to make monthly payments to cover your treatment. 

To begin the procedure, Dr. Hopkins will provide you with the appropriate anesthesia. He will then remove the tooth from its socket, either non-surgically or surgically, before cleaning and disinfecting the area. If needed, he can also place stitches at the site. 

If you are getting a mini dental implant on the same day, he will create a small hole in your gums and jawbone and insert the titanium post. Because there is no need to wait for your jawbone to grow around the implant, as would be necessary with a standard implant, he can place a temporary crown on the post during the same appointment. 

Dr. Hopkins will send impressions of your smile to a lab that will create your replacement tooth. At the next appointment, Dr. Hopkins can fit this tooth on the mini dental implant. 

Tooth Extraction Recovery and Aftercare

Caring for a mini dental implant is similar to caring for your natural teeth.

Keep the extraction area clean. You can rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash throughout the day, but avoid brushing directly over the treatment area. You can brush and floss the rest of your teeth as you normally do. 

Avoid strenuous exercise for at least two days, and make sure not to eat very hard, crunchy, or sticky foods. This is especially important if you received a mini dental implant. You will also want to avoid drinking through straws, which can dislodge blood clots. 

You can put ice on the treatment area and take over-the-counter painkillers as needed. 

It’s also a good idea not to use tooth whitening and other abrasive products. False teeth can get stained just like natural teeth, so you may want to reduce your consumption of things like red wine, coffee, and sodas. 

Rely on Expert Care in Gulfport, MS

If you suspect you need a tooth extraction, whether for an impacted wisdom tooth or a damaged tooth, you can rely on Dr. John Hopkins at Centre for Smile Designs in Gulfport, MS, for compassionate, expert care. 

He has over 40 years of experience helping people restore their smiles and regain their quality of life — and he can help you, too. Contact Centre for Smile Designs today to schedule your consultation.