Tooth Extractions

Teeth may require removal for a number of reasons including extensive dental caries (decay), severe periodontal disease (gum disease), or traumatic injury.

Tooth extraction is accomplished in complete comfort at our office using any one of the following anesthetic methods: local anesthesia, intravenous general anesthesia (asleep), intravenous conscious sedation, nitrous oxide gas anesthesia with local anesthesia, oral sedation with local anesthesia.

If you do no not plan to be asleep or sedated for the tooth extraction and prefer local anesthesia (often referred to as Novocain), you may eat prior to your appointment and you may drive yourself home. A consultation visit is not required unless multiple extractions are planned (usually four or more), or you have a complex medical history. Although it is generally advisable to go home after an extraction, you may go back to work if you desire. Children should go home rather than return to school after an extraction.

If you prefer intravenous general anesthesia (to be asleep) or intravenous conscious sedation, a preoperative consultation to evaluate your needs and discuss anesthesia options is mandatory. This allows us the opportunity to review your medical history and determine what is required to prepare you for your procedure. Please remember, in order to receive intravenous general anesthesia or intravenous conscious sedation you must come to the surgical appointment with an empty stomach, nothing to eat or drink, not even water, for eight hours before treatment. You must have an adult with you to drive you home after the procedure. You must go home after receiving general anesthesia or sedation, you cannot go to work or school on the day of treatment. Please review our website section entitled Before Intravenous General Anesthesia and Sedation carefully prior your surgical appointment.

If you prefer nitrous oxide gas, a consultation is recommended but not required. You must request nitrous oxide when you schedule the extraction. You must have an adult with you to drive you home after the procedure. You should have an empty stomach, nothing to eat or drink, not even water, for six hours before treatment. You must go home after the procedure, you cannot return to work or school after receiving nitrous oxide gas.

If you prefer oral sedation with local anesthesia, a preoperative consultation will be necessary to review your case, discuss your needs and evaluate your medical history. Dr. Turesky cannot prescribe medications without a signed, up to date medical history. You must have an adult drive you to and from the surgical appointment. You must go home after the procedure, you cannot go to work or school after receiving oral sedation.

A pre-operative consultation is generally recommended for multiple extractions (usually four or more teeth).

A preoperative consultation is often necessary if your medical history is complex. Dr. Turesky may need to discuss your medical history and surgical treatment plan with your physician before he can treat you. Please bring a list of your doctor’s telephone numbers and all medications you are currently taking to your consultation appointment.

It is important to replace a missing tooth for the following reasons: improved esthetics, improved chewing efficiency, improved speech articulation, stabilization of occlusion (preventing shifting of teeth), comfort, and self-confidence. In most cases, the best way to replace a missing tooth is with a dental implant.

In certain circumstances, Dr. Turesky will replace an extracted tooth immediately with a dental implant. If an implant is not placed immediately, the extraction site should be evaluated for implant placement about 7 or 8 weeks after tooth extraction. Waiting too long for implant placement after extraction can result in shifting of the teeth and bone loss due to bone resorption prohibiting future implant insertion.

If the extraction site is not appropriate for immediate implant placement, Dr. Turesky may recommend a socket preservation graft. This is a simple procedure that helps to minimize bone loss after tooth extraction and helps to prepare the site for future implant placement. The socket preservation graft must be accomplished at the time of extraction. If you would like more information regarding dental implants and socket preservation grafts please call our office. Also, please review our dental implant video and our sections on dental implants, socket preservation graft, and socket reconstruction graft on this website.

If you require tooth extraction and you are thinking of replacing the tooth with a dental implant, a consultation visit is strongly recommended prior to the extraction appointment so that Dr. Turesky can determine the best way to proceed and inform you of all treatment options.

If you have any questions regarding your diagnosis or treatment options for any oral surgical problem, we invite you to schedule a consultation appointment to discuss your concerns and needs with Dr. Turesky.