Category: Tooth Extractions

Understanding & Preventing Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction

Extracted tooth sitting next to a small mirrir

Sometimes, the path to your ideal smile involves tooth extraction. While the procedure itself is usually simple and relatively tolerated in most patients, appropriate aftercare is paramount in preventing complications like dry socket. Here are our tips on preventing dry socket following a tooth extraction.

What Is Dry Socket?

Dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, occurs when the blood clot that typically forms after a tooth extraction is dislodged or dissolves prematurely, exposing the underlying bone and nerves to air, food particles, and bacteria.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Gently clean your mouth and teeth, being careful around the extraction site. If you wish to use an anti-bacterial mouthwash or saline solution, tilt your head and soak the area instead of swishing.

Avoid Tobacco, Alcohol & Hard Foods

Smoking increases the risk of dry socket. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in tobacco can increase your risk of infection and prolong your healing time. Alcohol can affect your blood’s ability to clot and your hydration levels. Further, hard foods can dislodge the blood clot or cause trauma to the area, aiding the potential for infection.

Tooth Extraction in Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina!

Recovering from a tooth extraction can seem daunting, but following these tips can help ease that burden. If you have further questions or need to schedule an appointment, give the team at Paris Mountain Dental a call today!

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How Restorative Dental Services Can Restore Your Quality of Life

Grandpa and granddaughter playing guitar together.

Losing a tooth can impact your confidence — and losing multiple teeth can impact the way your smile functions altogether. But if you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, you don’t need to give up hope in your smile. Restorative dentistry is designed to help improve the appearance and function of your smile if you’ve experienced damage due to decay, injury, or other concerns. Here is a review of the restorative treatments we offer at Paris Mountain Dental.

Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are used to fill cavities. It’s important to fill the small holes in your teeth caused by cavities in order to prevent further damage in the future. Dental fillings are made from sturdy, composite materials that blend in with the natural appearance of your tooth.

Dental Crowns

Crowns, or caps, are placed over the top of an existing tooth for various reasons to enhance and strengthen your smile. After a root canal, a dental crown can strengthen the existing tooth. Crowns can also improve the appearance of weak teeth. The original tooth stays in place so your jaw density remains strong, however the part of the tooth that doesn’t look too great is covered up. The crown will look like a strong, natural tooth and hide the tooth that is chipped, cracked, or misshapen. Crowns can also replace missing teeth when they finish off a dental implant.

Bridges & Dentures

If you are missing multiple teeth in a row, a dental bridge is a convenient and affordable way to replace the string of teeth and fill out the empty space of your smile. Dentures are designed for those who have lost all of their teeth, whether in one jaw or both.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are as close to replacement natural teeth as you can get. They are composed of a titanium rod that is surgically placed under the gum line. Over time it fuses to the jaw and becomes a strong base for a crown, bridge, or dentures depending on how many teeth you’re replacing.

Root Canal Therapy

If you have an infected tooth, root canal therapy can clear out the infected tissue and salvage your natural tooth, allowing you to have a pain-free smile.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

When your wisdom teeth are impacted, they can grow in at a wrong angle and pose damage to your existing teeth. They can even cause straight teeth to move out of alignment. Oftentimes people develop infections around their wisdom teeth since they are hard to keep clean when they’re so far back in the mouth. Wisdom tooth removal helps keep your smile clear of any issues down the line.

Tooth Extractions

If no restorative treatments can help salvage your tooth or teeth, we may opt for a total tooth extraction. This is especially common if that particular tooth is preventing other teeth from growing in properly or is severely infected. After a tooth is extracted, we’ll work with you to determine the best replacement solution.

Affordable Restorative Dentistry in Travelers Rest, SC

Your smile is designed to help you chew, talk, and smile with confidence. Unfortunately sometimes patients lose teeth either to injury or infection. Whatever the problem, we can find a solution through restorative dentistry. Our friendly staff will work with you to determine the right course of action from our extensive treatment options. We’ll help you develop a plan that will make your treatment affordable. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get ready to smile with confidence again!

Restorative dentistry will have you smiling again!

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When Should a Tooth Be Extracted?

Masked dental professionals with tools for a dental extraction are looking down on the patient.

We always try to save a natural tooth if we can. That often means performing a root canal, but this therapy is not always the best option for all teeth or all scenarios. Sometimes, tooth extraction ends up being better for your health. When would you need a tooth removed? Here are the most common reasons.

Excessive Trauma or Decay

If a tooth has been severely damaged or decayed, taking it out is the best choice. Decay is preventable when you take good care of your teeth and visit the dentist. To avoid dental trauma, wear a mouthguard when you play sports and chew hard foods carefully. However, sometimes accidents happen and an extraction is necessary.

Gum Disease Damage

Severe gum disease makes your gums pull away from your teeth. This causes teeth to become loose. Gum disease can also cause bone loss and infections. Rather than waiting for your teeth to fall out, a clean extraction is better. You can avoid gum disease by brushing, flossing, and coming in for professional cleanings twice a year.

Crowded or Impacted Teeth

Sometimes crowded teeth damage your smile. Teeth that are too close together are harder to clean, which makes them more vulnerable to decay. They can also grind against each other. Impacted teeth refer to teeth that haven’t erupted properly. Wisdom teeth are often impacted, so it’s common to need some or all removed.

Dental Extractions at Paris Mountain Dental

If Dr. Ghimire decides a tooth extraction is the best choice for your health, our Travelers Rest team will ensure that the experience is as comfortable as possible. A topical anesthetic is always applied, so you may feel pressure when the tooth is pulled, but no pain. If you’re nervous, we also offer nitrous oxide sedation. For a smooth healing process, we’ll provide you with detailed aftercare instructions for the next 2-3 days of recovery. Wondering if you need an extraction or want to know more about our other services? Please contact us today!

We make tooth extractions as comfortable as possible.

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