As dentists, our job is to preserve and maintain your teeth so they provide years of comfortable use. So the decision to remove a tooth is not one we ever take lightly.
If Dr. Brian Cook recommends tooth extraction at our Huntsville dental office, rest assured that it's the only option left to preserve your oral health. If this ever becomes the case, we will tell you and show you why we recommend extraction and how it will benefit you.
It’s essential to preserve the structure of your tooth for as long as possible. Services like tooth fillings and dental crowns are of value because they protect a decayed or broken tooth. But if damage to a tooth becomes too extensive for either of these to work, Dr. Cook would likely recommend removing it.
There are several circumstances where we may recommend tooth extraction:
Our dental care team wants you to feel informed every time you make a decision about your dental care. Dr. Cook uses technology like digital x-rays and intraoral cameras that help you visualize what the problem is and understand the need for treatment.
Dr. Brian K. Cook was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2005, he received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Alabama with magna cum laude ...
Dr. Kestner is a native of Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of Randolph School. Her undergraduate education was completed at Auburn University, where she graduated magna cum laude ...
Dr. Cook has a reputation for being a kind and gentle dentist in Huntsville, so most of our patients don’t need any help to relax. Your mouth will be numb for the procedure, so you don’t have to worry about any pain.
But everyone’s different, and if you do require a little more relaxation, we offer safe, mild nitrous oxide sedation. Nitrous oxide helps you relax just for the duration of your procedure. There are no lingering drowsy after effects, and you’ll leave our office refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your day.
Your comfort is our priority, so if there’s ever anything we can do to eliminate your anxiety, please let us know.
The recovery time for tooth extraction is relatively short, usually just a day or two. After your procedure, our dental care team will give you a list of post-procedure care instructions that will help prevent complications and promote faster healing.
Your body needs time to rest and heal, so plan on taking the rest of the day off. Stock up on soft foods like soup and yogurt, so you don’t have to chew. Don’t smoke or drink through a straw because the sucking action can dislodge the protective clot that’s forming over the site.
Do you think you may need to have a tooth extraction? Please call our Huntsville, AL dental office to speak to a member of our dental care team.
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Wisdom teeth are the four teeth located in the very back of your mouth. They typically come through between the ages of 17 and 24, making them the last of your molars to join the fun.
With all your other teeth already happily in place, wisdom teeth can make an awkward appearance to a party that may not be able to accommodate them.
When there isn't enough space for your wisdom teeth, they can become impacted or shift the neighboring teeth and alter the alignment of your smile. None of these are suitable for your oral health and can lead to tooth loss.
Your wisdom tooth is ready to emerge, but it doesn't; when it remains under the gumline, it is impacted. When it only arises half-way, it is a partially impacted wisdom tooth.
In both scenarios, the wisdom tooth will come in at an angle because there is no room in the mouth. This can create a host of issues, including:
If you need a wisdom tooth removed, please call Twickenham Family Dentistry immediately. We know how stressful the thought of a dental extraction can be, which is why we offer sedation dentistry to help ease anxiety.
Our Huntsville, AL restorative dentists will ensure that patients will not feel pain during the procedure, and we invite them to relax while we treat their dental health.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt. They typically come in during the late teens or early twenties. In some cases, they emerge without issue, but too often, they push on neighboring teeth or only partially erupt. This can cause pain and leave you vulnerable to infection.
The extraction process itself is carefully planned to provide you with the easiest treatment possible.
As far as recovery time, it depends on several factors, including how many wisdom teeth we’re extracting and compliance with aftercare instructions. Your dentist provides specific instructions based on your case, but typically you should avoid drinking through a straw or smoking for 24 hours following tooth extractions. For the first day, it is recommended that you eat only soft foods.
You may notice mild soreness for a few days, but this typically decreases as each day passes. After about five to seven days, you may forget that you’ve had extractions. In any case, the discomfort is usually mild and treatable with over-the-counter pain relievers. Your dentist can make a recommendation.
We extract wisdom teeth regularly and will always make sure that the extraction area is completely numb. If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact our dental office today.
Feeling some nerves before a tooth extraction is completely normal. Whether you’ve had dental anxiety for years or this is your first major procedure, it's common to have fears about pain, recovery, or, simply, the unknown.
The good news is that many proven strategies help you feel calmer, more informed, and ...
Updated in September of 2025
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