A tooth extraction is when a dentist removes a tooth because it’s damaged by decay, disease, injury, or overcrowding. Removing one tooth is common, but sometimes more than one tooth needs to be taken out.
Removing multiple teeth at once is a bit more complex than taking out a single tooth. While losing one or two teeth isn’t usually a big deal, losing several teeth means the bone adjacent to the removed teeth may need reshaping for dental bridges or dentures. Sometimes we even graft the extraction sites to prepare them for future dental implants.
There’s no set rule for how many teeth can be safely removed in one session. It depends on your specific situation and your oral surgeon’s advice. Sometimes, removing all teeth might be necessary, especially if there’s severe gum disease causing major decay and infection. The rate limiting factor in regards to the amount of teeth that can be removed at a time is based on the patient’s health history.
Pain, bleeding, swelling, and infection are common complications. We strive to educate our patients on proper postoperative pain routines to minimize discomfort. In addition, we review diet options afterwards and can prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection if we think it is necessary.
For a simple extraction of one or two teeth, local anesthesia is often used to numb the area. But for removing multiple teeth, IV sedation is offered to patients with severe dental anxiety.
