As scary as a tooth extraction might seem, it may be the only option you may have at times. However, the treatment should not scare you. Thanks to modern dentistry in Roslyn, your tooth extraction experience might be a different story. Dental issues like an impacted wisdom tooth, severe decay, and overcrowding teeth only have one option; removal. When you delay an extraction, you risk infecting your other teeth, which might also need removal before they loosen and fall out. Though the treatment is usually the last resort, your dentist might consider an extraction necessary, especially when you need braces.
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What are your tooth extraction options?
Your dentist may either opt for a simple or a surgical extraction on your condition and whether the tooth is impacted or visible.
Simple extraction
During a simple extraction, your doctor will administer a local anesthetic on your treatment area to numb the site and the areas surrounding your tooth so that you only feel pressure and not pain during the procedure. After numbing your treatment site, your dentist will loosen your tooth with an elevator before removing it with forceps.
Surgical extraction
Unlike simple extraction, a surgical extraction combines intravenous (IV) and local anesthesia to numb your treatment area to calm you and relax your nerves. Your dentist may also administer general anesthesia, depending on the medical conditions you might have, to help you remain unconscious throughout the treatment. Your dentist will make a tiny incision in your gum during the process to remove your tooth’s surrounding bone or cut it into your tooth before he extracts it.
When will your dentist recommend a tooth extraction?
Several factors may force your doctor to recommend an extraction. You will most likely lose a tooth when:
- Your tooth becomes infected and is beyond repair
- You have gum disease
- Your dentist cannot repair your tooth with a crown or filling because of trauma.
- You have impacted wisdom teeth
- You have overcrowding teeth
Other reasons that may call for extraction include:
- Baby teeth that fail to fall out and give room for permanent teeth to grow
- When your dentist wants to create space for braces. For straightening to be effective, your dentist might need to remove a few of your teeth.
You will be at risk of infections when you prolong the extraction of your severely damaged tooth. The disease may spread to your nearby healthy teeth, risking your oral and general health.
What should you expect from an extraction?
Blood clots are typical with tooth extractions. Once your dentist extracts your tooth, blood clots form in its place. During the recovery period, your healthcare provider will advise you not to disrupt the blood clots as they may result in complications. In some instances, your dentist may stitch you up with dissolvable stitches when necessary. Your dentist might also advise you to change your diet from hard to soft foods and liquids. The foods you are likely to eat include mashed foods and soup.
An extraction may be your best treatment option when you have overcrowding, impacted, or severely decayed teeth. Do not hesitate to contact your dentist for tooth extraction since delay may lead to severe complications.