Tooth Extractions

Dr. Stover performs routine tooth extractions. Often routine extractions can be performed comfortably with local anesthetic shots alone. Dr. Stover offers the options of IV sedations and nitrous oxide as well. Normally teeth that are causing patients pain should be removed with sedation. It is difficult for badly infected teeth to become well anesthetized because the relative acidic environment around an infection renders the local anesthetic less effective than normal. IV sedation is also recommended for extractions that Dr. Stover believes may be difficult, such as teeth that have root canal fillings, fractured teeth and upper teeth that are near the maxillary sinus. It is impossible to predict which teeth will be removed without difficulty, so for that reason oral surgeons have found that IV sedation is the very best anesthetic technique to assure that all patients have a comfortable experience.

You may have discussed with your dentist options for replacing your tooth after it is removed. Replacement with dental implants is the very best option currently available. Dental implants are very successful and often very straightforward. The highest success is usually seen when Dr. Stover grafts the tooth socket with bone at the time the tooth is removed. After several months of healing, the implant or implants can be placed. This grafting procedure, using human derived bone that has been processed to assure its safety, allows the site to maintain enough bone to support the implant for many years to come.

Dentists now know that dental implants are a far superior way to replace teeth than bridges or partial dentures. They are also an excellent way to stabilize loose full dentures. Dental implants are considered the “gold standard” for tooth replacement. Because of the simplicity and success of implant restoration, many patients prefer to not go through with costly heroic procedures to replace failing teeth, but to have the tooth removed and replaced with an implant.