Tooth extraction is the process of having a tooth removed from the mouth. It could be because it is causing pain or if it is too damaged from decay or trauma to be repaired.
Dentists would rather have their patients keep their natural teeth. But, extractions are necessary to prevent damage to the other teeth in the mouth, possible infection and other oral diseases.
Some of the reasons people need to have a tooth extraction include:
A dentist will recommend a tooth extraction if a tooth is too big for the mouth and prevents the teeth from aligning properly. They will also recommend an extraction if a tooth is unable to erupt properly because there is no room in the mouth. This is a very common practice when the wisdom tooth is unable to erupt.
Tooth decay can damage the pulp in a tooth, which is the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. When this happens, the bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp, leading to infection. The problem is usually fixed with a root canal, but if the infection is too severe and antibiotics do not work, then a tooth extraction may be needed to prevent the infection from spreading.
If the patient’s immune system is compromised due to treatment like chemotherapy, then the risk of infection is very high. That is why dentists would rather extract a decayed tooth than risk an infection that could jeopardize the patient’s health.
Tooth extraction may be needed if the patient is suffering from severe gum disease. If the gum disease leads to an infection that causes the loosening of the teeth, the dentist may have to extract the loose tooth or teeth.
The tooth extraction process is very straightforward. The dentist or oral surgeon will give the patient a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted. If the tooth that has to be extracted has not erupted, the dentist will have to perform a surgical extraction and may use a strong general anesthetic to prevent the patient from feeling pain during the procedure and to put them to sleep.
When the tooth has been removed, there will be a little bleeding from where the tooth was taken out, but the dentist will stop the bleeding with gauze and use self-dissolving stitches to close the incision.
After the tooth extraction, the dentist will send the patient home to recover, which usually takes a few days. They will also provide the patient with medication for the pain as well as a list of instructions the patient should follow during recovery.
Tooth extraction is necessary when dentists do not believe they can salvage a tooth and to prevent oral problems like infections. If you have any of the problems listed in this blog, schedule an appointment with your dentist to find out if you need to tooth extraction.
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