The Facts About Why Having A Tooth Extracted Can Improve Your Oral Health
MANY TIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS STEP ONE OF SHOWING OFF YOUR STRAIGHTER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE
In the days when you were a child, losing a tooth meant a visit from the tooth fairy. Sadly, when you had all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became significantly less enjoyable. There are numerous reasons that you may have a dental extraction to help your oral health, like a tooth that hasn't erupted, to prevent overcrowding, or an infected tooth. While a dental extraction might not seem like fun, it's not as scary or uncomfortable as it once was. Using contemporary techniques and multiple sedation choices, MINT dentistry in Las Colinas makes tooth extractions a bit easier in the event that you need one. Our staff in Las Colinas, TX will carefully evaluate the affected area prior to suggesting an extraction. If a tooth has to be extracted, our team will make sure you are relaxed from beginning to end. Read on to find out about both methods of dental extractions and common reasons why a tooth may need to be removed.
TECHNIQUES USED FOR TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are numerous reasons why a tooth might need to get pulled. To begin, the team at MINT dentistry in Las Colinas will figure out the reason for your oral issue. Then, they will be able to determine what kind of tooth removal best fits your needs. The majority of dental extractions fit into two main categories:
- SIMPLE EXTRACTION
Your dentist will conduct a simple extraction if the tooth has erupted over the gums. It may be loosened with a tool known as an elevator, and then the crown and root are taken out of the jawbone and gum tissue. A simple extraction is usually chosen when a tooth is badly infected, very decayed, or damaged beyond repair, or to address overcrowded teeth. - SURGICAL EXTRACTION
An extraction surgery is performed when the crown hasn't completely grown out of the gums. Therefore, an incision is needed to extract the tooth below the gums. If needed, the tooth could be divided into many pieces for a simpler extraction. This method is typically used to take out the wisdom teeth or a nonerupted tooth.
TYPICAL REASONS YOU COULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A TOOTH EXTRACTED
Many types of dental problems could lead to needing a tooth extraction. Among the top reasons adults in Las Colinas, TX will require a dental extraction is to avoid impaction. These are a few of the other common reasons you might require a tooth extraction:
- EXCESSIVE CAVITIES
In cases where a dental cavity is left untreated or not treated in time, it will likely spread to the pulp in the tooth. While a root canal may potentially be done to preserve the tooth, it might need to be removed if the decay is extensive enough to compromise the tooth. A simple extraction may prevent the decay and infection from moving into other teeth, the gum tissue, jaw, and, eventually, your bloodstream. - MOLARS
Your back molars, also referred to as the wisdom teeth, will, in all likelihood, need to be extracted. The human jaw normally isn't big enough fit these extra teeth, so as they begin to poke out of the gums (in most people, during ages 15 – 22), your dentist may need to perform a surgical extraction. It's crucial to get the third molars removed as early as you can, so they don't become infected or impacted. But a small number of people don't need to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. Very rarely, some lucky people don't get all four wisdom teeth or even any at all! - OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
Sometimes, a tooth or teeth may need to be removed before an orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign or classic braces. These treatments are intended to adjust the teeth into the correct alignment, which might necessitate extracting one or more teeth if there is not enough space so the others are able to fit. Tooth overcrowding is usually treated with a simple extraction. - DAMAGE TO THE TEETH
Sadly, mishaps can happen to anyone, and, sometimes, our teeth could be damaged. While the first solution is generally to try to preserve the tooth, it might not be possible. The trauma might be caused by a car collision or perhaps an athletic or workplace incident, but no matter the reason, anyone in Las Colinas, TX really need to set up an appointment with a dental professional if they've experienced an oral injury. It's possible that the damage might not be obvious to a nonprofessional. - IMPACTED TOOTH
If you have an impacted tooth, it signals that there is some type of blockage keeping the tooth from pushing out of the gums. An impacted tooth may be impeded by a baby tooth that hasn't come out naturally, or it may be moving in the wrong direction and is blocked by a nearby permanent tooth. Based upon the source of the impaction, the dentist might perform a simple or surgical extraction to alleviate discomfort or avoid an infection.
RECOVERY PERIOD AFTER HAVING A TOOTH REMOVED
After a tooth extraction, it's important to understand and carefully adhere to your dentist’s after-care instructions. A simple extraction will usually need less recovery time compared to a surgical extraction; however, it is going to be different for every specific case. You might be given a prescription for antibiotics to hold off infection, and maybe a pain medication. You may choose to go on a soft foods diet for the immediate few days following the procedure, while your mouth is sensitive and healing. This is a good chance to indulge in a little ice cream, but you should also use protein shakes, etc., for healthier foods. You should stop ingesting any tobacco products, leading up to and after your extraction, because they may reduce your body's ability to heal properly. Your dentist may tell you to use an antibiotic mouthwash until you are released to start flossing and brushing again.
THE ROAD TO A HEALTHIER, SEXIER SMILE MAY INVOLVE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction may be done for many reasons, including to stop an infection from affecting other teeth, to treat an impaction, or just to provide your remaining teeth additional space. Dealing with all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Las Colinas is key to obtaining your most attractive smile. Call us in Las Colinas, TX to schedule an appointment with our experienced staff to find out whether a simple or surgical extraction might be the most effective option for a healthier, more attractive smile.