What Can You Do If Recommended a Tooth Extraction by Your Dentist?
Sometimes there is no other option other than for a dentist to recommend a tooth extraction. You may think that dentists are able to save teeth no matter how badly decayed or how mobile. However, if your tooth has a severe infection that can potentially cause severe bone loss and spread of infection to the rest of your body, extraction is often the best choice.
Tooth extractions are also common if you have impacted teeth or if teeth need to be removed for orthodontic treatments. Instead of remaining concerned about the removal, it helps to prepare for the treatment by knowing what to expect.
Let us review the various reasons why dentists near you recommend tooth extractions. We will also explore alternative options available to help you have a frank discussion with the general dentist in Dallas, Texas, before the procedure.
Why Are Tooth Extractions Recommended?
Adult teeth are expected to remain in the mouth permanently. Still, extractions are a standard procedure to ensure your oral health is in optimal condition and you experience no pain or discomfort when biting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Some issues that warrant tooth extractions include:
Overcrowding
Misshapen or large teeth cause overcrowding to leave your teeth misaligned. Tooth extractions are recommended to make space for the remaining teeth by allowing them to move into the correct position. Tooth extractions are sometimes essential before you can undergo orthodontic work to correct the misalignment in your mouth.
Dental Infections
If your tooth has suffered severe decay or fractures and there is minimal remaining healthy tooth structure left, the tooth cannot be restored and therefore extraction is the only option. If the decay has extended into the nerve area of the tooth resulting in a very large abscess occasionally an extraction will be advised if a root canal is not a good option.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is chronic condition resulting in the weakening and destruction of the tissue and bones holding your teeth. As a result, you experience infection and inflammation in the gums causing tooth mobility. In these cases, extraction is the only option.
Injury
Sometimes a severe injury to your tooth results in a recommendation from a dentist to have the tooth extracted if they cannot preserve it.
Regardless of the reason, if your dentist recommends an extraction, you mustn’t delay the treatment for long. After receiving your diagnosis, you should schedule your procedure as soon as possible to avoid worsening infection.
The Tooth Extraction Process
Tooth extractions are generally performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Dental professionals will perform the extraction while ensuring you are comfortable and feel no pain during the removal. You will likely not experience any pain but merely some pressure when the tooth is pulled out. For example, if you have an erupted tooth extracted, you receive local anesthesia before the procedure making the tooth and the surrounding oral tissues numb. On the other hand, if the extraction is for an impacted tooth, more potent anesthesia is recommended, which is discussed with you before the procedure.
Tooth extractions are completed relatively quickly in under an hour in a straightforward surgical procedure. Erupted teeth are removed using instruments called elevators to loosen the tooth and extract it with forceps. Removing an impacted tooth is more complicated and requires the removal of gum and bone tissue covering the tooth. If the tooth is firmly in place, a dentist removes the tooth in pieces.
Managing Your Mouth after Tooth Extraction
You may require a few days to recover after tooth extraction. Therefore, dentists provide after-care instructions to ensure your recovery proceeds smoothly. The after-care instructions include:
Biting on gauze applied to the extraction site to promote clotting in the tooth socket.
Taking any prescribed or over-the-counter painkillers as instructed.
No smoking or using a straw for drinking for at least 72 hours.
Continue your oral hygiene regimen while avoiding the extraction site.
You will experience discomfort for the initial 24 hours during your recovery. However, after a couple of days, you will begin to feel normal. when
After undergoing tooth extractions in Dallas, Texas, you will want to begin planning for the tooth replacement. The remaining teeth in your mouth begin shifting towards the vacant space left by the missing tooth. The shifting can present challenges to chewing and the functionality of your jaw. Fortunately, the Dallas dentist near you also provides dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures to replace the removed tooth to restore your smile appearance and mouth functionality.