Gentle Tooth Extraction Using Advanced Techniques

A tooth extraction can become necessary if you have a tooth that is damaged or decayed beyond repair. Extraction may also be recommended if your smile is overcrowded, or if wisdom teeth are problematic. At Family Dental Care, Dr. Danny O’Keefe and Dr. Jan O'Keefe Belote focus on your comfort for a pain-free procedure. After extracting a tooth at our Flowood, MS, dental practice, we can recommend the right restorative treatment to keep your smile healthy and attractive.

Woman grimacing and holding her jaw in pain
In some cases, tooth extraction is the best way to restore the health of your smile.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

Your dentist may recommend extracting a tooth if:

  • Teeth are crowded, misaligned, or preventing the eruption of other teeth.
  • A permanent tooth is coming in before a primary tooth has fallen out.
  • You need braces, and certain teeth will prevent optimal alignment.
  • Gum disease or decay has caused severe damage to a tooth that cannot be resolved.
  • A tooth has a serious crack or fracture.
  • You have wisdom teeth that are causing issues or on course to harm surrounding teeth and other tissues.

Before recommending extraction, our team will conduct a careful assessment of your smile and explore every possible alternative. Rest assured that extraction is a last resort, and if it is possible to restore your tooth using a more conservative treatment, we will explain your options and help you make an informed decision.

About the Extraction Process

Prior to extracting your tooth, we will administer a local anesthetic. We also offer several sedation options to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure, including nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. The type of sedation recommended will depend on the complexity of your treatment and the number of teeth being extracted.

If you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth, we can perform a minimally invasive tooth extraction to restore the health of your smile.

Once you are comfortable, your dentist will begin the extraction process. For the extraction of fully erupted teeth, your dentist will gently move the tooth back and forth and then lift it out.

If the tooth is partially or completely trapped below the gum line, your dentist may need to make incisions in the gums or jaw tissue to access the tooth, and may need to separate the tooth into pieces in order to extract it. Once the dentist has removed all pieces of the tooth, he or she can close the incision.

How Long Is the Recovery?

Recovery may take one to three days. During this time, you should limit physical activity and take any pain medications as directed. Patients should avoid hot food and drinks and should not drink through a straw. You can apply ice to the area to reduce swelling and ease any discomfort.

Restore Your Oral Health

At Family Dental Care, Dr. O’Keefe and Dr. Belote are committed to helping you achieve and maintain your oral health. If you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth, we can perform a minimally invasive tooth extraction to restore the health of your smile. We can also provide you with tips for at-home care to keep your smile healthy after an extraction. Contact us online or by phone at (601) 936-2526 to schedule your appointment.

Dr. Danny O'Keefe

Family Dental Care

At Family Dental Care in Flowood, MS, Dr. Danny O'Keefe and his experienced team provide patients from throughout the greater Jackson area with superior general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Our office is equipped with modern dental technology and we offer complete sedation services to enhance patient comfort. Dr. O'Keefe is affiliated with:

  • The American Dental Association
  • The Mississippi Dental Association
  • The Academy of General Dentistry
  • The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology

To schedule an appointment, please fill out our online form or call (601) 936-2526.

Contact Us Today

"This office has the most professional dentists and dental staff. They treat you like family every time you're there. I've been a patient for over 15 years and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon." Rita O., Current Patient

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