Restorative Dentistry

Oral Surgery and Tooth Extractions in Inglewood, CA

We understand that the thought of oral surgery can make you feel anxious. At Blue Diamond Dental, we go out of our way to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Our compassionate team provides expert oral surgery, including gentle tooth extractions, right here in Inglewood, CA. We focus entirely on your safety, precision, and peace of mind from the moment you sit in our chair until your smile is fully healed.

man in oral surgery

When Do We Recommend a Tooth Extraction?

Dr. Anthony Ortega and our team always strive to save your natural teeth whenever possible. However, certain situations require a professional extraction to protect your overall oral health. We may recommend an extraction if you experience:

  • Severe tooth decay that we cannot repair with a filling or a dental crown.
  • Advanced periodontal disease that has severely loosened the tooth.
  • A tooth that is broken or fractured beyond repair.
  • Poorly positioned or impacted teeth, such as painful wisdom teeth.
  • Overcrowding that requires correction before starting orthodontic treatment.

What to Expect During Your Extraction

We want you to feel completely relaxed during your procedure. Before we begin, we use a local anesthetic to thoroughly numb your tooth, jawbone, and the surrounding gums.

During the extraction, you will feel some pressure. We gently rock the tooth to widen the socket for easy removal. Because the anesthetic numbs the pain-transmitting nerves, you feel this pressure without feeling any sharp pain. If you feel any discomfort at all, just let us know, and we will adjust your care immediately.

In some cases, a tooth is firmly anchored or has curved roots. If this happens, we perform a simple process called sectioning. We carefully cut the tooth into smaller pieces and remove them one at a time to ensure a smoother, safer extraction.

Essential Aftercare for a Fast Recovery

Proper aftercare is vital for a quick and comfortable healing process. After we remove the tooth, a blood clot must form in the empty socket to stop the bleeding and help your gums heal.

We will ask you to bite down gently on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes immediately after your appointment. Once the blood clot forms, you must protect it carefully. For the first 72 hours, do not drink through a straw, smoke, consume alcohol, or rinse your mouth vigorously. These actions can easily dislodge the clot and slow down your recovery.

You may experience some mild swelling and discomfort after the numbness wears off. Applying an ice pack to your cheek and taking your prescribed pain medication will help keep you comfortable. You can usually resume your normal dental hygiene routine after 24 hours to keep your mouth clean and fresh.

Trusted Oral Surgery in the South Bay Area

Blue Diamond Dental has proudly served the Inglewood, Hawthorne, and Gardena communities for over 50 years. We combine advanced surgical techniques with a warm, welcoming environment. We treat you like family, and our experienced team is always available to answer your questions and guide you through a successful recovery.

Schedule Your Oral Surgery Consultation

Do not let a damaged or painful tooth compromise your health and daily comfort. Receive the expert, gentle surgical care you deserve from our dedicated dental team.

Book your oral surgery consultation online today!

FAQ

At the time of extraction the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.

During the extraction process you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.

You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.

If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.

Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.

After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes immediately after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times to staunch the flow of blood.

After the blood clot forms it is important to not disturb or dislodge the clot. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities may dislodge or dissolve the clot and hinder the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use pain medication as directed. Call our office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately.