Extractions Planned Around Your Comfort
For a lot of people, the hardest part of an extraction is the waiting beforehand. If that sounds like you, our Norwood office has two sedation options on top of standard numbing: nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, and oral conscious sedation, a medication you take before the procedure.
Dr. Kaceli's approach is calm and gentle, and she would much rather explain what's coming than surprise you. Each treatment room also has a flat-screen TV, which some patients like as a distraction.
Two Kinds of Extraction
Simple extraction
Used when the whole tooth is visible above the gum. Once the area is numb, Dr. Kaceli uses an elevator to gently loosen the tooth from the bone and lift it out.
Surgical extraction
Used for teeth that are broken, impacted under the gum, or have roots that make a simple extraction impractical. A small incision gives access to the tooth, which may be sectioned into smaller pieces. The site is cleaned and closed with sutures. Most surgical extractions take about 30 to 60 minutes.
Problem Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth cause trouble when there isn't room for them. They can stay trapped in the jaw, push against the neighboring molar or break only partway through the gum, where they collect food and bacteria.
Left alone, a problem wisdom tooth can lead to repeated gum infections, decay in the tooth next to it, or crowding. Our Norwood office has CBCT 3D imaging, and Dr. Kaceli may use it when a regular X-ray doesn't show clearly where an impacted tooth sits.
Your Extraction Visit in Norwood
- DiagnosisDigital X-rays show the tooth, its roots and the surrounding bone. Dr. Kaceli confirms the tooth can't be saved and explains whether a simple or surgical extraction is needed.
- Anesthesia and sedationThe area is numbed with local anesthesia. If you've chosen nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, it's given before treatment starts.
- RemovalThe tooth is loosened and removed, or sectioned and removed in pieces for a surgical case.
- Cleaning and closingThe socket is cleaned, and sutures are placed when needed.
- AftercareYou go home with written aftercare instructions. Antibiotics may be prescribed if there's an infection or your immune system is compromised.
Recovery and Replacing the Tooth
Healing after a surgical extraction usually takes one to two weeks. Mild swelling and soreness in the first few days are common. Follow the written instructions closely, eat soft foods, and call the office if something doesn't feel right.
A missing tooth can let the teeth around it drift over time, so it's worth planning a replacement. Dental implants in Norwood are often the closest thing to a natural tooth. Our periodontist, Dr. Milagros Serrano, DDS, focuses on implants and bone grafting. A bridge or partial denture may suit you better, and Dr. Kaceli will go over each option.
Why Choose Kaceli Dental Studio in Norwood?
Before anything is removed, Dr. Kaceli checks whether the tooth can be kept with a crown, a filling or root canal treatment. That's how she has approached patients since opening her first practice here in Norwood.
Sedation, in-office 3D imaging and written aftercare are all part of an extraction here. We're also open the third Friday and third Saturday of each month, which can make it easier to plan treatment and recovery around your work week.
