Tooth extractions may be necessary for several different reasons. They're often recommended if you’re getting your wisdom teeth and they're not growing into your mouth properly. Or, tooth extractions may be necessary if you have one or more damaged teeth due to an injury, decay, or gum disease. As a conservative dentist, Dr. Hlavaty will only recommend tooth extractions at Hlavaty Dental Arts if they're the right choice for your situation. Contact us now to schedule a consultation in Santa Barbara.
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First, Dr. Hlavaty will clean and numb the treatment site. We also offer sedation for your comfort. This ensures that you’ll be completely comfortable throughout your entire appointment.
n a basic extraction, Dr. Hlavaty will use a few different tools to loosen your tooth in the socket. Then, he will wiggle it loose and pull it out using dental forceps. Next, he’ll clean and suture the surgical site to ensure it heals properly.
In a surgical extraction, Dr. Hlavaty will make an incision into the gums. Then, he will cut the tooth into small sections and extract it piece-by-piece. Once the entire tooth has been removed, he will clean and suture the surgical site.
Dr. Hlavaty will send you home with a set of recovery instructions. You can usually get back to work or school after a day, but it will take up to 1-2 weeks for your mouth to heal completely, so follow his instructions closely as you recover.
Basic tooth extractions are used when the entire tooth is exposed and intact. This is the simplest type of extraction, and simply involves pulling and loosening the tooth until it comes out. Basic extractions are usually used to remove infected or damaged teeth, for fully-erupted wisdom teeth, and to prepare for certain dental procedures like dentures or dental implants.
Wisdom tooth extractions are the most common type of extraction. The wisdom teeth grow in much later than the rest of the teeth, usually between the ages of 17-25. Some people don’t have enough room for this set of teeth. If that’s the case, they can cause lots of problems like damage to the nearby teeth, infections, and more. If your wisdom teeth are not emerging properly or are not healthy, Dr. Hlavaty may recommend that you have them extracted.
If your wisdom tooth doesn’t emerge all the way, this means that it’s “impacted.” Impacted wisdom teeth can cause lots of oral health issues, so they need to be extracted as soon as possible. Dr. Hlavaty will make an incision in your gums, cut the tooth into pieces, and remove it, restoring your oral health.
Dental sealants are most commonly recommended for children who may be high-risk for tooth decay, but they’re also a great option for patients of any age who wish to protect themselves from developing cavities. A relatively straight-forward procedure, dental sealants start with the application of dental resin, usually to the rear teeth, as they have more grooves and uneven surfaces where plaque and bacteria can easily hide. A UV light will be used to cure the resin, hardening it and creating a powerful barrier between your enamel and food debris, acid, or bacteria. When applied correctly, dental sealants can last for years!
Many patients struggle with gum disease, and if left untreated, can risk losing their teeth and other problems. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is the only stage that can actually be reversed with deep cleanings and attentive at-home hygiene. If you have gum disease, keeping up with your regular cleanings and checkups will help you gain control over your oral health before it’s too late!
For patients with more advanced stages of periodontitis, we recommend scheduling deep cleanings at more frequent intervals, usually every three to four months. Although the effects of advanced gum disease can’t be reversed, deep cleanings, scaling, and root planing can halt the progression of periodontitis and help preserve your oral health.
Oral cancer screenings are an important part of every preventive care visit. Catching oral cancer in its early stages allows us to stop it before it spreads, and can save your life. That’s why we’ll always check for signs of oral cancer at every preventive visit.
Your dentist will examine your oral tissues, like your gums and tongue, keeping an eye out for abnormalities like lesions, lumps, discolorations. If we find anything unusual, we’ll take a biopsy and send it out to a specialist for a thorough analysis. Although oral cancer isn’t overly common, it’s important to remain proactive and consistent with your oral healthcare routine, so we can identify any issues before they become major problems.
Teeth grinding and clenching while sleeping is a common issue faced by many patients. Night guards are a great solution for this unconscious clenching, also known as bruxism. Night guards form a soft barrier that protects your teeth from damage caused by the pressure of clenching and grinding. Your dentist will take an impression or a scan of your teeth and gums to create a unique mold that will be sent to a dental lab, where your night guard will be custom-crafted. Night guards work by easing the tension in your jaw, alleviating the painful headaches and other side effects of clenching and grinding, so you can get the sleep you need and keep your teeth from wearing down.
Sports mouth guards are worn over the teeth, just like night guards. However sports guards are designed specifically to protect your smile from dental injuries that are so common when playing high-intensity impact sports. Custom-fitted sports guards can help protect athletes from oral trauma caused by collisions to the mouth, face, and head. If you play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, mountain biking, or other activities that put you at risk for injury due from falls, body contact, or flying objects, ask us about getting fitted for a custom sports guard today! Tailored to fit your unique smile, sports guards are comfortable, durable, and won’t stop you from playing the sports you love.
Not at all. Dr. Hlavaty will numb your mouth before your procedure begins, and we also offer a variety of sedation options, including laughing gas, oral sedation (sedative pills) and IV sedation. You won’t feel any pain or discomfort during your procedure. After your numbing and sedation wear off, you may feel some discomfort, but if you follow Dr. Hlavaty’s instructions as you recover, you’ll start to feel better within a day or two.
Monday - Thursday
8:00AM - 5:00PM
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