Scared About Tooth Extractions? Do Not be, and Here Is Why
In modern society, there are many reasons for people to have their teeth extracted – from improving oral hygiene to saving the life of a tooth that has been damaged or decayed.
Unfortunately, many people have negative perceptions about tooth extractions because they know they can be uncomfortable or painful. Some feel that extraction is unnecessary. However, before a dentist recommends tooth extraction near you, they examine your teeth and consider other treatments. Tooth removal is only done when necessary. Before you can ignore getting the procedure, it is important to understand the facts of tooth extraction.
What is Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extraction is the surgical removal of an object from the oral cavity, usually, one that has become loose or decayed.
Tooth extraction can also be used to remove an entire tooth that is causing problems in the mouth. There are many different tools involved in tooth extraction, but some of them are forceps, scalers, and curettes.
Why You Should Not Be Afraid of Tooth Extraction
Most people fear going to the dentist, a natural response to a painful and somewhat scary process. However, the reality is that teeth extraction is not that bad and here is why you shouldn’t be scared of it:
- It is done when necessary
For a dentist near you to recommend tooth removal, they have examined your teeth and determined that they need to be extracted. Other treatments are often done before tooth removal is considered. There are, however, other times when removing your teeth is the best treatment option, and these include:
- Tooth decay
When your teeth have cavities, dental fillings may be used. A root canal can also be done if the decay has spread to the pulp cavity and it is causing pain. However, if it has affected the ligaments and the root, the extraction is done to preserve the jaw.
- Impacted teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third molars located in the back of your mouth. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, they can cause pain because they are pressing against the gums and blocking the roots of adjacent teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth extraction is a procedure in which a dentist removes the wisdom tooth by cutting out the impacted part. This process is done through drilling and removing the root and surrounding tissue with minimal damage to other teeth.
- Overcrowded teeth
Narrow jaws can cause the teeth to grow on each other, causing the mouth to be overcrowded. This causes the teeth to weaken and increases the risk of cavities (it is difficult to clean the teeth properly). Also, overcrowded teeth can affect alignment. Dr. Amy Valenti can opt for tooth extraction to remove the excess teeth and create room for teeth alignment treatment.
- Delayed primary teeth
The dentist can perform tooth removal if the primary teeth do not fall out on time, affecting the eruption of the permanent ones.
- Not as Painful
Before the procedure begins, our dentist in Sarasota will give anesthesia. Local anesthesia blocks the nerves in the mouth and prevents the patient from feeling any discomfort during the extraction process.
Dental sedation can also be used if you have dental phobia. Sedation relaxes you and makes it easy for the dentist to perform the procedure without interference.
- Procedure Not Lengthy
Tooth extraction is the process of removing one or more teeth from the mouth. There are two forms of tooth extraction – surgical tooth extraction and non-surgical tooth extraction.
The first step is determining the area where the tooth is located so that anesthetists can monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.
A non-surgical or simple extraction is done on visible teeth, and it takes about 30 minutes.
Surgical tooth extraction is performed under general anesthesia to remove teeth that lie beneath the gums, such as impacted teeth. A surgeon will make an incision at the gum line and then create a small opening in the gum tissue to remove any remaining roots of teeth still attached to it. If there are any teeth stuck, they will break them off before extracting one or more teeth. This procedure can take about an hour, depending on the complexity of the condition.
What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
You may experience pain, soreness, and bleeding as the anesthesia begins to wear out. These problems, however, will last for a couple of days and will wear out. It is crucial to avoid eating spicy, hot, and chewy foods as the gums heal.
Visit Tarpon Shores Dental for more information about tooth extraction recovery instructions.