Cochrane Dental Centre
Your Choice for Cochrane Tooth Extractions

Offering Cochrane Tooth Extractions

At Cochrane Dental Centre, we are pleased to offer the convenience of Cochrane Tooth Extractions! From wisdom teeth extractions to single tooth extractions, we offer the convenience of tooth extractions, here in our Cochrane dental office.

Why Teeth are Extracted

There are many reasons why teeth require extraction. The tooth might have decay, gum disease or a fracture beyond what we can repair. The tooth may need to remove it for space or prior to placing orthodontic braces. Some teeth are poorly positioned and need to be removed. A common example of this is the ‘third molar’ or wisdom tooth.

Other common reasons for tooth extraction include:

  • Teeth that block or impede the other teeth from coming into their ideal position
  • If baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow the permanent teeth to come in
  • Teeth may need to be extracted during orthodontic treatment to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. They need to be removed if they are decayed, cause pain, have a cyst or infection or are headed in the direction of some misalignment issue. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In these cases, the tooth must be removed. If you need all four wisdom teeth removed, they are usually taken out at the same time.

Your dentist will make the recommendation for a tooth extraction based on your examination and radiographs (usually between the ages of 16-22). Not all wisdom teeth have to be removed; in some cases, there is adequate room, and the wisdom tooth can come in and function normally. In other cases, the wisdom tooth stays buried in bone and is unlikely to erupt. And in some cases, the wisdom tooth never forms at all. The most common wisdom tooth problem occurs when the tooth comes into the mouth only part of the way and then stalls. In these instances, it is best to remove these teeth at a recommended time and not wait until they have caused damage or become infected at the worst possible time (while on vacation, etc.).

How Teeth are Extracted

You may hear people talk about getting a tooth “pulled.” This is an unfortunate term because we don’t pull out teeth to remove them. If we did, we could easily damage the surrounding teeth, gums and/or bone. If a tooth needs removal, we numb the area around it and then “luxate” it. To luxate a tooth, we move it from side to side until it loosens, then it is gently lifted out of the mouth. Sometimes we will cut the tooth into two or more pieces to remove it safely, especially if it has several roots going different directions.

What can I expect after I have my tooth removed?

Every case is different and after the tooth is removed your dentist will review with you what to expect. In general, a small amount of discomfort is normal immediately after the freezing comes out.  At this point, some patients will take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Bleeding or swelling is usually minimal, but again, your dentist can tell you what to expect with your particular case.

Do I need to replace my tooth once it is removed?

Again, this depends on the individual case.  Some teeth are important for function or aesthetics; for example, the first molar tooth is very important for chewing and taking the bite force to protect the other teeth from damage/loss. Some other teeth, such as wisdom teeth, are rarely replaced.

Learn More about Cochrane Tooth Extractions at Cochrane Dental Centre

To learn more about our Cochrane Tooth extractions, contact us at (403) 932-3031 or request an appointment today!

Our Practice Always Welcomes New Patients – No Referral is required!