Although good dental health and cleanliness can let you preserve your natural teeth for a lifetime, your Chattanooga dentist may prescribe tooth extraction as your only choice at some point.
This indicates that there is no other option to save your tooth and that the only way to avoid additional health problems is to remove it.
When Should You Get a Tooth Extracted?
Tooth extraction may be your only choice if it cannot be restored with a crown or dental filling due to damage from an accident or substantial decay. When a tooth is significantly damaged, it can no longer be kept in the mouth. Delaying its removal risks the infection spreading, which can lead to other serious health problems beyond the mouth.
Similarly, impacted wisdom teeth develop when there is insufficient room for them to emerge, causing them to grow sideways and harm neighboring teeth. The possible outcomes are jaw pain, discomfort, overcrowding, tooth decay, and gum infection.
Other situations that may need tooth extraction include:
- Extra teeth that obstruct the eruption of other teeth.
- If baby teeth fail to fall out in time, permanent teeth will emerge.
- To make room for teeth that are being straightened with braces.
What Is the Process for Removing A Tooth?
Simple extractions and surgical extractions are the two forms of tooth extractions. Whether your tooth is visible or affected will determine whether it must be extracted.
- Simple Extraction – You can undergo this type of extraction if your tooth is visible above the gum line. In this method, a local anesthetic is used to numb the extraction site. Simple tooth extraction is a process that includes loosening the tooth before using forceps to remove it from the socket.
- Surgical Extraction – This form of tooth extraction is a bit more complicated. It typically requires the dentist to create a tiny incision in the gum and occasionally remove gum tissue or bone to retrieve the tooth.
Thankfully, you may choose general anesthesia, often known as ‘sleep dentistry,’ which means you’ll be completely unconscious throughout the surgery and won’t feel a thing. A surgical extraction is frequently necessary for extracting impacted wisdom teeth.
What Should You Do To Prepare For A Tooth Extraction?
Before beginning any dental treatment, your dentist will meet with you for a consultation to discuss your concerns and any personal or health issues they need to be aware of.
What Should You Do Once You’ve Had Your Teeth Extracted?
Once your teeth are pulled, your dentist will give you specific advice on what to do and expect. For optimal recovery, managing post-surgery care is critical, so if you have any questions or concerns, be sure to consult your dentist before leaving the clinic.
You should expect a little discomfort after surgery, like any other procedure. If your dentist has given medicine to aid discomfort and inflammation, you must follow the directions and take the proper dose.
Here are a few pointers to help you handle extraction recovery:
- After surgery, bite down on a gauze pad for 30 minutes to help stop the bleeding. If you bleed too much, bite down on a cotton pad for 10 minutes. If the bleeding persists, contact your dentist right away.
- To minimize swelling, put an ice pack on your cheeks for 20 minutes, remove it for 20 minutes, and then apply it again for 20 minutes.
- For a few days, eat only soft foods.
- After having a tooth pulled, refrain from smoking for 72 hours.
- After 24 hours, gently rinse the area with warm salt water to keep it clean.
Conclusion
There are a few reasons why you might need a tooth extraction. To ensure a healthy recovery, it’s best to follow the dental advice given to you.
Shallowford Family Dental Group is one of the leading dentists in Chattanooga committed to providing care and optimal dental experience. For more information, contact us today!