Gentle Tooth Extraction, Followed by Customized Restorative Care

At Heringer Dentistry, our first goal is to restore compromised teeth and save your healthy smile. However, if you have severe dental damage, Dr. Everett E. Heringer can perform a minimal-discomfort tooth extraction at his Bismarck, ND, dental practice. Your dentist may also recommend extraction if you are suffering from dental crowding or an impacted tooth. After removing the tooth, we can provide appropriate follow-up care and restorative treatment to replace missing teeth and fill gaps in your smile.

Do You Need a Tooth Extraction?

While extraction is not our go-to treatment, there are a number of situations in which we might recommend this option. This procedure might be right for you if you suffer from a variety of concerns, such as:

• A very large cavity where a crown is not enough to reinforce your tooth
• Dental infection and you have not responded well to root canal therapy
• A compromised immune system, so root canal therapy is unwise
• An impacted tooth that is unable to erupt fully and remains trapped beneath your gums or a layer of bone tissue
• Insufficient room for wisdom teeth
• Loose teeth due to advanced gum disease

The Extraction Procedure

Before an extraction, a member of our team will take x-rays. These images allow your dentist to plan a precise treatment that will not disturb the healthy parts of your jaw and soft tissues. When you are ready to begin, your practitioner will numb the area with powerful, safe local anesthesia.

For a simple extraction, Dr. Herginer will gently loosen the tooth to easily lift it from the socket with little effect on the surrounding tissues. If you have an impacted tooth, or if it has broken near your gum line, you will typically require a surgical extraction. To perform this type of surgery, your dentist may need to remove some of the bone or gum tissue that is covering your tooth. Occasionally, Dr. Heringer will extract the tooth in several pieces, especially if it is very large or if it is coming in at a pronounced angle. When the tooth is out, your dentist may place a piece of gauze over the area. In some circumstances, they may need to place a few dissolvable stitches.

What to Expect after Tooth Extraction

Dental extraction is a very safe procedure. However, dry socket is the most common side effect of this procedure. After extraction, a blood clot will form in the socket, sealing the area. If this clot becomes loose, the underlying nerves and blood vessels can be exposed to air, and it can cause marked discomfort. Fortunately, these side effects are can be avoided, especially when you visit the experienced team at Heringer Dentistry and follow all postoperative instructions. 

Dental extraction can eliminate the serious inflammation of a toothache. It can also protect your smile by preventing bacteria and infection from spreading to your other teeth.

After your extraction, you may experience some slight sensitivity. To ease discomfort, we recommend mild medications, ice packs, and a soft diet for a few days. After you have healed, we can provide a lifelike restoration to match the rest of your smile. Options include bridges, dentures, and dental implants. The right choice will depend on the number of teeth you are missing, as well as the overall health of your jawbone.

Protect Your Oral Health

Dental extraction can eliminate the serious inflammation of a toothache. It can also protect your smile by preventing bacteria and infection from spreading to your other teeth. To learn more about our low-risk, reduced-discomfort extractions, contact our office online or call us at (701) 255-4850 today.