The Facts About How Getting A Tooth Removed Can Improve General Dental Health
MANY TIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS STEP ONE OF OBTAINING YOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE
In the days when you were still a little kid, pulling a tooth signaled a dollar or two from the tooth fairy. However, as soon as you had all your adult teeth, it became significantly less enjoyable. There are loads of reasons that you may have a tooth extraction to help your oral health, such as an impacted tooth, to prevent overcrowding, or an infected tooth. While a tooth extraction might not seem like a good time, it's no longer as frightening or painful as it once was. Using current techniques and several sedation choices, MINT dentistry in DeSoto makes dental extractions a little easier in the event that you need one. Our dental staff in DeSoto, TX will carefully examine the area prior to determining you need an extraction. If a tooth needs to be taken out, our team works hard to ensure you are relaxed from beginning to end. Read on to learn about the two main techniques of tooth extractions and common reasons why a tooth might have to be extracted.
KINDS OF TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are a number of reasons that a tooth might have to get removed. First, your team at MINT dentistry in DeSoto will establish the reason for your oral symptoms. After that, they will be able to choose which type of tooth removal best fits your needs. The majority of dental extractions fall into two main categories:
- SURGICAL EXTRACTION
A surgical extraction will be used when the crown hasn't fully broken through the gums. Therefore, an incision is required to access the tooth under the tissue. If needed, the tooth could be divided into many pieces for a less invasive extraction. Extraction surgery is typically chosen to take out the back molars or an impacted tooth. - SIMPLE EXTRACTION
Your dental practitioner will conduct a simple extraction if your crown of the tooth is visible over the gumline. It may be loosened by a dental tool known as an elevator before the tooth and root are removed from the jawbone and gum tissue. This method is usually selected if a tooth is severely infected, very decayed, or irreparable, or to make room for overcrowding.
TYPICAL REASONS YOU COULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A TOOTH EXTRACTED
A lot of types of oral issues can lead to needing a tooth extraction. One of the leading reasons patients in DeSoto, TX would have a tooth extraction is to prevent tooth eruption failure. These are several of the other routine reasons you may require a tooth extraction:
- MOLARS
Many patients' back molars, also referred to as the wisdom teeth, will most likely need to be removed. The modern human jaw typically isn't big enough fit these additional teeth, so when they start to erupt from the gums (usually from ages 15 – 22), your dentist might recommend a surgical extraction. It's best to have the back molars removed as soon as you can, before they become impacted or infected. But certain men and women never have to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. Occasionally, some lucky people don't develop all four wisdom teeth or even any at all! - OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
In many cases, a tooth or teeth may have to be taken out before an orthodontic treatment, for example, Invisalign or standard braces. These treatments are made to move the teeth into the correct positions, which may require removing one or multiple teeth if there is not enough space so the remaining teeth can fit. Tooth overcrowding is usually resolved with simple extraction. - SEVERE CAVITIES
When a cavity is ignored or not handled in time, it may spread to the pulp in the tooth. Although a root canal could potentially be done to save the tooth, it might have to be removed if the cavity is bad enough to undermine the tooth's structure. A simple extraction may prevent the decay and disease from spreading to other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, finally, your circulatory system. - TEETH THAT HAVEN'T ERUPTED
When patients have tooth impaction, it signals that there is some sort of problem keeping the tooth from growing through the gum tissue. An impacted tooth may be stuck behind a primary tooth that hasn't come out on its own, or it may be growing in the wrong direction and is obstructed by another permanent tooth. Based on the cause of the impaction, the dentist might recommend a simple or surgical extraction to lessen pain or avoid an infection. - TRAUMA TO THE TOOTH
Regrettably, accidents can happen to us all, and, sometimes, our teeth might be damaged. While the preferred option is generally to attempt to save the tooth, it may not be possible. The damage may be caused by a car collision or maybe a sports or workplace accident, but no matter the reason, patients in DeSoto, TX really should arrange a visit with a dental practitioner if they've experienced an oral injury. Sometimes, the harm might not be obvious to a nonprofessional.
HEALING PERIOD FOR HAVING A TOOTH REMOVED
In the days after a dental extraction, it's necessary to understand and carefully adhere to your dentist’s healing instructions. A simple extraction will usually have less healing time than a surgical extraction; however, it is going to be different for every case. You could be given a prescription for antibiotics to hold off infection, as well as a pain medication. You may decide to stick to a soft foods diet for the first couple of days following the extraction, when the area is still sensitive and recovering. This is a good opportunity to eat some ice cream, but you ought to also make soup, etc., to eat healthier foods. You need to avoid consuming all tobacco products, both prior to and following your treatment, because they may lower your body's ability to heal correctly. Your dentist might suggest using an antibiotic mouthwash until you given the okay to begin brushing and flossing again.
THE ROAD TO A HEALTHIER, MORE APPROACHABLE SMILE MIGHT INVOLVE A TOOTH EXTRACTION
A dental extraction could be needed for a lot of reasons, including to stop decay from traveling throughout the body, to resolve an impaction, or just to give your other teeth additional space. Dealing with all of these problems at MINT dentistry in DeSoto is key to obtaining your best smile. Contact our practice in DeSoto, TX to set up an appointment with our skilled dental professionals to determine whether a surgical or simple extraction could be the optimal option for a healthier, more attractive smile.