General Dentistry St Ives

Tooth extraction is the process of removing the whole tooth from the mouth. Whilst this is a routine procedure, unless there are no other treatment options, we try to limit the amount of extractions that we perform. This is due to further problems possible occurring if a gap is left in the mouth. The few times we may consider tooth removal include;

Impacted wisdom tooth

Your wisdom teeth are the last of your adult teeth to grow through and are found at the back of your gums. However, there is not always enough room for them to grow through properly, so they will start growing at an angle. When this happens, they are known as being ‘impacted’.

Once we have determined that your wisdom tooth will not grow properly, or may cause problems later on in life, we will suggest extracting it. This is a straightforward procedure that will be carried out in our dental practice. When a wisdom tooth is removed your mouth should function as normal. Once it has been extracted, there is no need to replace the tooth with a prosthetic.

Infected Tooth

If you are prone to health issues or have a weakened immune system, you have a higher risk of getting a tooth infection. If the infection develops too far, and antibiotics or a root canal cannot fix it, it would be best to have the tooth removed in order to stop the infection spreading to more of your teeth or even other parts of your body.

Non-vital Tooth

A ‘dead’ or non-vital tooth has lost its blood flow and no longer functions. They will naturally fall out over time but waiting for this to happen could cause toothache, discomfort, or even an abscess. Here at Revitalise Dental Centre, if we suspect a tooth is dead, or dying, we will recommend extracting it as to avoid any further risks.

Baby teeth or extra teeth

Your baby teeth don’t always fall out on their own, and sometimes people have extra teeth growing through. In both these situations, the permanent teeth can be stopped from growing properly.

What to expect during a tooth extraction?

Tooth removal can sometimes be an intimidating procedure. Here at Revitalise we pride ourselves on offering our patients a quick and painless removal at our state-of-the-art dental centre. We start off the procedure by applying a topical gel anaesthetic to the area of the mouth from which the tooth shall be removed. We then use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. By doing this, we are making it a pain-free procedure for our patients. Once the anaesthetic has started to work, and you feel relaxed and comfortable, our trained professionals will start to widen the tooth socket so they can gently start ‘pulling’ out the tooth.

Although our aim is to offer a quick extraction, we never rush or pressure our patients. We understand that a lot of patients undergoing a tooth removal feel anxious about the process, so we encourage you to let us know if you want to take a short break or feel uncomfortable. Only when you feel ready, we will begin again.

During your appointment, your aftercare will be discussed with you. Looking after your teeth after a removal is vital in ensuring that it is allowed to heal properly. Because we use a local anaesthetic when removing a tooth, you might not feel like driving after your treatment. When travelling from Devon for general dentistry treatment we recommend having someone take you to and from our centre.

Root Canal Treatment, or Endodontics, is used to treat teeth that are badly infected or if a nerve is diagnosed to be dead (necrotic).
This treatment is only used however when the soft tissues at the centre of your teeth, known as the pulp, have become infected. There are a few ways that the pulp can become infected, such as tooth decay or even if the tooth sustains an injury. When this happens, bacteria is able to enter and grow inside the tooth.

Symptoms of an infected pulp

Having an x-ray done of your mouth by your dentist is the only way to determine if the pulp has become infected. Any of the following symptoms are always worth mentioning during your general dentistry check-up;

• Sensitivity or pain when you eat and drink
• A tooth that is loose or wobbly
• Inflammation in the mouth
• Pain when biting or chewing

If left, the infection could develop and get worse over time, meaning that the pulp will start dying. Your symptoms may clear up if this happens, but that does not necessarily mean that the infection has cleared. Our immune systems are designed to fight off any dead tissues. If left, a dead tooth could cause an abscess or cyst in your mouth.

The original symptoms will eventually return, and may bring with them new ones, such as;

• Bad breath that does not go away even after brushing your teeth
• Sickness and fever
• A bad or unusual taste in your mouth
• Swelling
• Pain

What to expect during root canal treatment?

The purpose of a root canal is to remove infected bacteria and debris, therefore saving the tooth from having to be extracted. In order to remove the bacteria, the pulp must be completely removed from the tooth. This is done by creating an opening in the outer structure of the tooth so that your dentist has access to the pulp. Once your root canal has been cleaned and the infection has been removed, it will be either filled with a composite filling, or covered with a crown. For this procedure, you will be given a local anaesthetic, stopping you from feeling any pain.

By having regular check-ups with your general dentist, we are able to spot cavities, holes that appear in your teeth, before they grow too big, causing further complications like tooth loss or infections. Treating a cavity is as simple as filling it in.

What to expect when receiving a filling

Filling treatments are an extremely common procedure which are carried out under a local anaesthesia so that you can relax and receive a pain-free experience. The treatment starts off by seeing if there is any decay in the tooth. Once any decay has been removed, your tooth will be cleaned up and shaped, before inserting the filling. After the cavity has been filled, your general dentist will check to see that your bite is correct and make any necessary adjustments. This is a simple and straightforward procedure that will only take about half an hour.

Fillings are usually made from one of two types of material; Amalgam or Composite. Amalgam fillings are a mixture of multiple metals, most commonly mercury and silver, which is why they are usually referred to as ‘silver fillings’. Composite fillings are tooth coloured and are more aesthetically pleasing as they are not visible when your mouth is open.

What is a crown and when would I need one?

Where fillings are used to restore small areas of tooth decay, crowns are used to treat teeth that are badly decayed to the extent that a filling would not be able to provide the long-term support that the tooth would need. Crowns are designed so that they cover the tooth, forming a protective barrier from further damage.

A crown may also be used in the following situations;

• A broken or chipped tooth which needs restoring
• After root canal treatment, to ensure what is left of the tooth is protected