Star of Texas is a dental assisting school that provides Austin dental assistant students an all-inclusive program to become certified as a Dental Assistant in just 12 weeks! Our classes are held in a specialty dentist practice giving our Austin dental assistant students the opportunity to do rotations through our Endodontics, Periodontics and Oral Surgery departments.
One area our students get to explore is extractions. What happens after a patient gets a tooth extracted?
Extraction Site Preservation
When removing a tooth it is important to consider what will be done with the empty space after that tooth is removed. Wisdom teeth are in the back of the mouth, so that site will heal on its own with no complications. If it is necessary to remove another tooth, plans must be made. If a tooth is removed and nothing is done with the extraction site, the jaw bone will degenerate and change shape during healing and can cause your teeth to shift. This can create problems in your bite and affect your ability to speak and chew.
If you want to fill the space with a dental implant, a sturdy jaw bone is necessary to install the implant. If you opt for a dental bridge, the bridge must be molded and placed before the teeth shift.
Your dentist is always open to a conversation on what you would like to do with your extraction site before removing a tooth. They will be able to make a recommendation and layout a treatment plan. Make sure to schedule follow up appointments to properly care for your extraction site.
Contact Star of Texas Dental Assisting School if you have any questions about tooth extractions or want to learn more. We are currently enrolling Austin dental assistant students for our fall session (512) 487-1547.
