THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING A DENTAL EXTRACTION

DENTAL

What Is a Dental Extraction?

A dental extraction is the removal of one or more teeth from their sockets in the jawbone (alveolus) by a dentist. Dental extractions are typically used to treat diseased teeth and may also prepare a space for another dental appliance such as an implant or bridge.

Extractions are performed under local anesthesia in a dentist’s office or surgery facility and typically do not require general anesthesia. A dentist uses special instruments designed for the procedure to perform a Tooth extraction.

When is a dental extraction the best option?

It depends. Are you struggling with pain that medications can’t resolve? Do you have an infection or abscess? Do you have cracked, broken, or decayed teeth? Is the tooth so damaged that it would be better to remove and replace it? A dental extraction may be the best option for you.

Treatments for some types of oral health issues can be quite invasive, expensive, and painful. A dental extraction may be your best alternative. However, the treatment may not always be a perfect solution and could cause other problems. An extraction is sometimes necessary, but it’s important to know all the facts before deciding on your oral health.

There is a tooth outgrowth known as wisdom teeth. These are the third set of molars that grow at the back of one’s mouth, near the final molars at the back of the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, but some may have only two or three. This can be a problem for some people because the jaws don’t grow to accommodate these extra teeth. This is a prevalent issue, and it is essential to know what to do when faced with this problem.

Benefits of Getting a Dental Extraction

There are several benefits to getting a dental extraction done on you. The main benefit is that it can help prevent other problems from occurring that are even more serious than tooth decay or gum disease, such as:

  • Chronic jaw pain – Wisdom teeth often cause pain in the jaw, leading to facial deformities due to repeated grinding of one’s teeth at night.
  • Abscesses – An infection can occur in the gums or roots of teeth if they aren’t extracted in time, leading to an abscessed tooth or socket.
  • Damage to other teeth – Infection or growth deformities.

Extractions are also common in orthodontic work, such as when braces are used to straighten teeth.

Wisdom Tooth extraction is a simple procedure that involves little pain and swelling. It can be done in a few minutes with an anesthetic injection into the gum tissue around the tooth, which numbs the area and allows you to relax during the entire process.

The Procedure: Before the tooth is removed, your dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic (numbing medicine). After that, the tooth is loosened with forceps and gently wiggled out of its socket. You may feel soreness afterward, but over-the-counter pain medication can help relieve discomfort. Complications occur in only about one in 1,000 cases; most problems involve swelling or numbness in the gums and surrounding area that goes away within a few days if you follow your dentist’s instructions.

After tooth extraction, you might find some of these side effects:

  • Bloody saliva
  • Swelling at the extraction site
  • Bruising on your lips or cheeks
  • Pain at the extraction site that can last for up to one week
  • Sometimes it can lead to complications such as nerve damage.
  • They may also cause problems with chewing, and dentures may not fit properly without a tooth in place.
  • In about 10% of cases, a dry socket occurs when there is insufficient blood clotting at the site of tooth extraction. If it does occur, you will  typically be prescribed antibiotics to ease the pain and help prevent infection.