Oral Hygiene & Extractions

Good oral hygiene should always be practiced since the loss of a single tooth can have a major impact on your oral health and appearance. Although our dentists will use every measure to prevent tooth loss, there are still sometimes necessary occasions when a tooth may need to be extracted. At Burns Family Dentistry we perform full mouth extractions for dentures, simple and surgical extractions on both children and adults, emergency extractions and extraction of impacted wisdom teeth with sedation.  No matter what your dental extraction needs are, we’ll be sure to take great care of you from check-in to recovery. We’ll take care of you in the office, and give you all the knowledge to manage your oral hygiene at home.


Extractions: We are experts at tooth extractions and tooth replacement

Simply put, an extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket and root. Teeth may need to be extracted for a number of reasons. A tooth may need to be extracted for serval reasons. Some of these include: 

  • Severe decay 
  • Advanced periodontal disease 
  • Infection or abscess 
  • Orthodontic correction 
  • Malpositioned teeth 
  • Fractured teeth or roots 
  • Impacted teeth 

No matter the reason for your extraction, we know you may be in pain. That’s why we want to be there to make sure your extraction is preformed safely, with the correct preservation and aftercare. Some common types of extractions we see are simple and surgical extractions and impacted wisdom teeth extractions.

Simple and Surgical Extractions 

We start by getting you out of pain as quickly as possible. We will take an x-ray and evaluate the tooth or teeth and give you your options. If an extraction is needed we can then provide you with an array of sedation options or get started right away. Most extractions last a few seconds to a few minutes and are much less traumatic than you might think. Once the procedure is complete the area may be closed with a stitch. We will then provide you with gauze to bite on and care instructions to alleviate discomfort and ensure proper healing. Most extractions will be sore for around three days and be mostly healed in about a week regardless of the difficulty of the procedure. We have safely performed thousands of extractions for hundreds of patients that were in need of emergency care over the years.

Wisdom Teeth Removal: A Specialty Procedure that we are known for

We are known in our community for removing wisdom teeth. My father began removing wisdom teeth in 1976, and then he taught me, and now together we have performed wisdom tooth extractions on as many as three generations. We have always relied on word of mouth referrals and every year we see old and new patients for our unique method of wisdom tooth removal. Our patients don’t tend to have excessive swelling and dry sockets are almost unheard of when we use a minimally invasive, top down approach. Most patients feel pretty good in a few days and are almost fully recovered in about a week from the procedure. The average age to have wisdom teeth removed is about 16, but removal is almost always recommended before age 30. Teeth that remain impacted are prone to infection and formation of cysts or worse. The risk increases with age. 

How It Works:
For impacted wisdom teeth, we start with an evaluation of your panorex x-ray. This is a large x-ray of both jaws that allows us to see root development, position, location of nerves and determine the level of impaction. We acquire baseline vital sign readings and provide a cost estimate at your consultation appointment. Removal of four impacted wisdom teeth generally takes about an hour and includes intravenous Valium sedation.

Dr. Burns does all he can to ensure your extraction procedure is as pain-free and anxiety-free as possible. We employ a full range of sedation techniques for your comfort. If local anesthesia just isn’t enough we have nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas”, plumbed into every room. Some patients require a sedative medication given prior to appointments. We also offer intravenous Valium sedation for those who need it. Please review our sedation options for a look at how we can make your experience more comfortable, relaxing and ultimately more stress-free. 

Socket Preservation and PRP

Socket preservation is a procedure to reduce bone loss at the tooth removal site after an extraction is performed. If it’s not correctly preserved and protected, the empty socket will resorb or shrink, losing up to 40% of the bone in a few weeks and causing your teeth to shift out of alignment. This can result in the beginning stages of jaw deterioration, affecting your ability to chew, speak, and can cause issues when you bite. At Burns Family Dentistry, we care about your comfort and ability to return to your normal habits after an extraction.

How It Works: 
Socket preservation involves placing granular bone (FDBA) into the socket so as to prevent it from shrinking. We offer the use of PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma, at no extra charge to you. PRP is a blood product, made from your own blood, that contains concentrated platelets, immune cells and growth factors that speed healing and reduce post-op pain. To do this we collect a vial of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge for about 10 minutes. The PRP is then mixed with the granular bone and is placed in the socket. A fibrin membrane is also created to cover the wound.

Socket preservation enables you to maintain the bone volume of your jaw and makes tooth replacement easier and more comfortable whether you choose an implant, a bridge, or even a denture. Sometimes more extensive bone grafting is necessary to prepare a site for implants. Don’t worry, we have been extensively trained in bone grafting as well. Whether it is ridge expansion or even lateral sinus lift grafts, we can do it all. We’ve built our reputation serving our community.

If you’re experiencing tooth aches or pain, contact us today or give us at call at 540.373.6557. We want to make your experience as comfortable as possible.