Tooth Extractions
in St. Clair Shores

Get Help for Troublesome Teeth

With Tooth Extractions

At St. Clair Tooth Co., Dr. Carly Cassleman always does everything she can to save your tooth. However, there may be times when it’s simply not possible to save your tooth, or when extracting it and replacing it is a better option. If you have a troublesome tooth in St. Clair Shores or Grosse Pointe, we can help with gentle tooth extractions. If you have a troublesome tooth, schedule your appointment today.

Why Would I Need

An Extraction?

The most common reason is that your wisdom teeth aren’t growing into your mouth properly. We’ll discuss this in-depth in the next section of this page. You may also require a tooth extraction if your tooth has been damaged by decay, periodontal disease or an oral injury, and Dr. Cassleman does not believe we can save it with a restorative treatment like a filling, crown or root canal.
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Beyond this, tooth extractions are sometimes also required to prepare for other restorative treatments, such as a dental bridge, denture or dental implant. Occasionally, teeth may also need to be extracted for orthodontic purposes, such as to make room in your mouth if you have a very small mouth and crowded teeth.

Wisdom Tooth

Extractions

Our wisdom teeth are our third and final set of molars. They start to erupt much later than our other teeth. While you’ll usually have all of your adult teeth by the age of 12-13, wisdom teeth come out between the ages of 17-25.
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Unfortunately, most of us don’t have enough room in our mouths for our wisdom teeth. This is especially true of patients who have had orthodontics. That means they may emerge incorrectly, cause the other teeth to move, and cause other complications like a high risk of infection. For these reasons, most people choose to have their wisdom teeth removed once they come in.
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However, wisdom tooth extraction is not always necessary. If they are growing into your mouth properly and not causing any oral health issues, you may be able to keep your wisdom teeth. We recommend consulting with Dr. Carly Cassleman in St. Clair Shores to learn more.

What Can I Expect

From the Extraction Process?

The basic extraction process is very simple. Dr. Cassleman will numb your mouth and clean the treatment area. Then, Dr. Cassleman will begin loosening your tooth in its socket using a dental elevator. Once your tooth has been sufficiently loosened, she will grab it by the root using a pair of dental forceps. Then, your tooth will be pulled out, and the area will be cleaned, sanitized, and sutured shut. This process is repeated for each tooth that requires extraction. 

Does it hurt

to get a tooth pulled?

During your initial surgery, you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. Dr. Carly Cassleman is an experienced dentist and has performed numerous extractions. She will numb your gums near the treatment site with anesthetic spray and then use a numbing needle to numb the nerves below your tooth.

After your surgery, you will experience some pain and discomfort as your mouth heals. This is normal, and to be expected. Dr. Cassleman will give you instructions on how to reduce your pain and speed up the healing and recovery process, so make sure that you follow these closely. 

How Long will it take

to recover?

Most patients will be fully recovered within 2 weeks after their wisdom tooth surgery. Symptoms like pain, bleeding, bruising, swelling, and discomfort will usually fade within a few days. After a week, you may be able to go back to eating solid foods, and after 2 weeks, your extraction site should not feel painful at all, though it still may be a bit tender if you put pressure on it. 

However, recovery time varies from patient-to-patient, and it also depends on how well you follow your postoperative recovery instructions. You will need to follow all of the steps recommended by Dr. Cassleman, such as avoiding exercise for a few days, not smoking, not using a straw to drink or spitting forcefully for 24-48 hours, and other such steps. 

You’ll usually get a follow-up with Dr. Cassleman at our St. Clair Shores dental office a week or two after your extraction. At this time, she’ll check on your healing progress and make sure you aren’t experiencing any complications. Your stitches may also be removed at this time if non-dissolving sutures were used.

should I replace

My missing tooth?

Unless you have had a wisdom tooth extracted, you need to replace your missing tooth right away. Dr. Cassleman will discuss your options for tooth replacement with you during your appointment at St. Clair Tooth Co. Depending on your situation, a partial denture, a dental bridge, or a dental implant may be the best choice for restoring your smile.
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There are a few reasons that tooth replacement is so important after an extraction. The most obvious is that it will restore your appearance, which can be negatively affected if you lose a tooth. Losing a front tooth, in particular, can make you feel self-conscious about how you look, and even impair your ability to speak clearly or eat certain foods.
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Beyond this, the teeth next to your now-missing tooth will begin to shift over time if you do not replace the tooth. This can cause problems with your bite and your tooth position.
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Another concern is bone loss after tooth extraction. Only dental implants can help with this issue. When you lose a tooth, the bone beneath the socket will no longer be strengthened and stimulated.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

With Dr. Carly Cassleman

Ready to get your dental health back on track? Dr. Carly Cassleman is always here to provide excellent care for patients in St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe. Contact us at (586) 404-4911 or stop by our office at 21321 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 to schedule your appointment. We’re always accepting new patients, so we hope to meet you soon.