Tooth Extractions
Los Angeles

Tooth Extractions

A tooth extraction represents the removal of a tooth from its socket (dental alveolus). Such a procedure might be necessary due to a variety of reasons, such as decay, periodontal disease or trauma.

Tooth extractions are generally quite straightforward procedures, most of them being performed rapidly while the patients are awake under local anesthetic injections, which makes them entirely painless.

What does a tooth extraction procedure consist of?

Prior to the extraction, our periodontist will administer an injection of a local anesthetic in order to numb the area where the tooth is located.

In case the patient needs several teeth extracted or in the case that the tooth is impacted, the periodontist will utilize a general anesthetic which will make him or her sleep during the entire operation.

If there is an impacted tooth, the doctor will cut away the bone and gum tissues which cover the tooth and then continue the extraction using forceps.

After the tooth has been extracted, a blood clot generally forms in the socket. A gauze pad will be packed into the socket and the patient will be asked to bite down on it in order to cease the bleeding.

In certain cases, the periodontist will place several self-dissolving stitches to close the edges of the gum over the extraction area.

Post op tips recommended by our LA periodontist

In order to have a quick recovery from a tooth extraction, patients are advised:

• Not to smoke
• Not to rinse the mouth vigorously
• Not to drink through a straw for 24 hours
• To follow the diet recommended by our periodontist

If you would like to schedule a tooth extraction with us, please contact Dr. Campbell’s office for a consultation.