Teeth Extractions
What Are Tooth Extractions?
Tooth extractions involve the removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. This procedure may be necessary when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, impacted, or causing crowding.
How Do Tooth Extractions Work?
During an extraction, your dentist numbs the area around your tooth with local anesthesia. They then use specialized instruments to gently loosen the tooth from its socket. Once the tooth is free, your dentist may use forceps to remove it completely.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Tooth Extraction?
A person may be a good candidate for an extraction if they have a severely damaged, decayed, or infected tooth that cannot be restored with other dental treatments. Additionally, individuals with overcrowding-impacted teeth, or preparing for orthodontic treatment might also consider tooth extraction as a viable option.
The Tooth Extraction Procedure
During a tooth extraction, your dentist numbs the area around the tooth with local anesthesia. Using specialized instruments, they gently loosen your tooth from its socket, after which they may use forceps to remove it. Afterward, post-operative care instructions are provided to you to promote healing.
Extractions
Created in Treatment
General Procedure
When restoration procedures such as root canal therapy, crowns, or fillings are not enough to save a tooth, it may need to be pulled, or extracted.
Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding.
Before a tooth is extracted, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed with a topical/and or injectable anesthetic such as Novocaine. Patients with extracted teeth sometimes need to take an antibiotic, and at the very least, take precautions following the procedure to ensure that infection doesn’t occur.
Smoking, vigorous brushing and rinsing, and drinking liquids through straws are discouraged during the post-operative period because they hinder healing and may cause the wound to open. Cold compresses applied to the outside cheek near the extraction area can help reduce any swelling and promote faster healing.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that erupt in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth. Unfortunately, most people experience problems from wisdom teeth; in most cases, this is because the teeth erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper bites, and other problems.
If wisdom teeth are causing a problem, this could mean that they are impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can be extremely painful, as well as harmful to your oral health. Symptoms are easy to spot: severe discomfort, inflammation, and some kinds of infections.
Many people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid future serious problems. In general, the lack of the four wisdom teeth does not hamper one’s ability to properly bite down, speak or eat.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth:
- Facial swelling
- Infection
- Pain
- Gum swelling
