Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is a procedure we perform at our Carencro and Scott, LA, dental offices to remove an unsalvageable tooth. In some cases, we recommend removing a tooth to aid in orthodontic treatment or the placement of prosthetics.
It can be challenging to hear your dentist recommend a tooth extraction. At Fontenot Family Dentistry, we understand and respect your concerns. Our compassionate dental team will support you, provide reassurance, and ensure a comfortable, anxiety-free experience.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
Preserving natural tooth structure for as long as possible is one of the keys to maintaining lifelong oral health. If Dr. Fontenot recommends removing a tooth, it’s because the oral health benefits outweigh the benefits of keeping it.
- Advanced tooth decay — If a cavity covers too much of the tooth, it's no longer possible to save it with a filling or crown.
- Infection — If a tooth infection is too advanced for a root canal, we recommend extraction to relieve your pain and prevent the infection from spreading.
- Advanced gum disease — Periodontitis is advanced gum disease that leads to bone deterioration and loosens the tooth, making it unsalvageable.
- Wisdom teeth — If wisdom teeth cause crowding, pain, or threaten surrounding teeth, our dentists will recommend removing them.
- Dental trauma — A tooth broken off below the gumline or injured beyond repair will need to be extracted.
- Orthodontic treatment — If teeth are overcrowded, we may recommend tooth extraction to help with orthodontic treatment.
- Preparing for implants or dentures — Sometimes, it’s necessary to remove one or more teeth to achieve the best results when placing dental implants or dentures.
The Tooth Extraction Process
Dr. Fontenot and his associates have performed many comfortable tooth extractions, so you can be confident your procedure will be safe, gentle, and in the best possible hands.
Our team will help you settle comfortably in the chair and offer you a blanket or neck pillow to help you relax. We have TVs in all our treatment rooms, so you can watch your favorite show to help distract you and ease your nerves.
We gently administers a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and ensure a pain-free procedure. The final step is to remove the tooth using special tools.
A simple tooth extraction typically takes an hour or less, and you will be able to return home shortly afterward. If you had oral or IV sedation, we require a friend or family member to drive you home safely.
Post-Extraction Care Instructions
After your procedure, we will provide instructions on caring for the extraction site. Following these steps helps promote healing and minimizes your risk of developing dry socket. This painful complication can occur if the healing clot over the extraction site comes loose.
It’s common to experience some swelling and mild discomfort for a day or two after tooth extraction. However, taking an OTC pain medication and using a cold compress on your face in the affected area is usually all that's needed for prompt relief and comfort.
Do You Need Tooth Extraction?
If you need a tooth removed, you are in excellent hands with the amazing team at Fontenot Family Dentistry. With dental offices in Scott and Carencro, LA, we can provide the prompt, convenient treatment you need.
Please call us at (337) 565-2580 to schedule an appointment so we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! We are pleased to offer IV sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation to ensure your comfort and pain-free procedures.
Types of Sedation We Offer
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a gas that’s mixed with oxygen, so it’s delivered through a small nose mask. When you inhale, it produces a very relaxed, calm, and dream-like state.
Sights and sounds around you will fade into the background, and the effects last as long as we administer the gas. When we stop the flow of nitrous, you’ll inhale pure oxygen for several minutes. After your appointment, you can drive yourself home safely.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral sedation involves taking a relaxing medication that makes you feel very calm and drowsy. You’ll remember little of what happened during your procedure. The medication takes several hours to leave your system, so you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is the deepest level of relaxation we offer. The “IV” stands for intravenous because the medication is delivered directly to the bloodstream.
Effects are immediate, and you will be semi-conscious and unaware of what’s happening around you. Most patients don’t remember anything that occurred during their appointment. IV sedation's effects last for several hours, so we require you to have someone else drive you home safely.
Learn More about Sedation Dentistry
Dr. Ian Fontenot is licensed to safely deliver all forms of dental sedation at our Scott and Carencro offices. Please call us for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last permanent teeth to emerge, usually in the late teens or early twenties. For some people, these teeth cause discomfort, pain, or issues with surrounding teeth.
When this occurs, our dentist may recommend wisdom tooth removal.
Signs You Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Here are several situations where removing third molars may be the safest and healthiest option:
- Pain or swelling — Pain or swelling in the jaw or back of your mouth near your wisdom teeth can indicate that they are causing problems.
- Tooth Crowding — Wisdom teeth can cause crowding or damage to other teeth, potentially leading to alignment issues or bite problems.
- Decay or gum disease — It’s difficult to clean wisdom teeth properly, making them more prone to decay or gum disease.
- Impaction — If wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to emerge properly, they may become impacted or stuck in the gums and at risk for infection.
Comfortable Wisdom Teeth Extraction
If you wonder if you need your wisdom teeth removed, please call Fontenot Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment at our Scott or Carencro dental office. Dr. Fontenot will perform an exam and take x-rays to determine if removing them is in your best interest.
In some cases, he may suggest leaving them in place if they are not causing any problems. However, if extraction is necessary, we recommend scheduling the procedure as soon as possible to prevent further problems.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Ian M. Fontenot DDS
Born and raised in Ville Platte, Dr. Ian Fontenot has strong roots in the Acadiana area. At a young age, his parents taught him the importance of customer and patient ...
Dr. Patrick Roesch
Dr. Patrick Roesch has been lucky to call Carencro home for his entire life. Having attended St. Leo Seton and Teurlings Catholic, Dr. Patrick quickly realized how special this local ...
Dr. Alyssa Magee
Born and raised in Lafayette, Dr. Alyssa Magee is proud to be serving the community she’s always called home. From a young age, she found joy in helping others feel ...
Tooth Extraction Technology
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
If you experience dental anxiety, nitrous oxide is a type of minimal sedation that helps you relax during your procedure. Nitrous is a gas mixed with oxygen and delivered through a small breathing mask.
As you inhale, nitrous oxide produces a pleasant sensation of calm and well-being, and you’ll feel somewhat detached from the activity around you. We tailor the level of sedation to your needs and carefully monitor you throughout treatment.
When we finish your procedure, we turn off the flow of nitrous so that you can inhale pure oxygen for several minutes. The drowsy effects dissipate quickly, and you will be alert enough to safely drive home from your appointment.