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Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary

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Even with all the advances in modern dentistry, it is still necessary for a dentist to pull a tooth from time to time.

There may be several reasons why extraction is the way to go:

• The tooth has decayed to the point where the pulp of the tooth has become infected. Although the situation may be resolved by a root canal procedure, if that doesn’t work the only way to solve the problem is to pull the tooth.

• Gum disease can weaken the gum tissue and result in loosened teeth. When this occurs, your dentist may need to pull the affected teeth.

• Your teeth are too big for your mouth, which results in a “crowded mouth.” If there’s not sufficient room in your mouth for all your teeth, your dentist may have to pull one in order to make room. This is particularly common in patients that are being prepared for braces.

• If you have a weakened immune system – for example, from a disease or some other physical condition – your dentist might recommend pulling a tooth if there is a risk of infection. In this instance, an infection could be very serious for the patient, so it would be better to extract a tooth rather than risk the consequences of infection.

 

Although having a tooth pulled is never a particularly pleasant experience, modern dentistry has advanced to the point where the patient usually feels little or no discomfort during the procedure itself. Afterward, patients are typically given painkillers to help during the recovery process. Your dentist will give you instructions on how best to take care of your mouth to ensure the speediest recovery possible.

 

 

 

Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/pulling-a-tooth-tooth-extraction

Austin Dentist Shares Tooth Extraction Before and After Tips

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Though dentists will generally do everything in their power to preserve the natural strength and beauty of teeth, unfortunately, there are times when a damaged tooth cannot be saved.

It could be that the tooth failed to form correctly, suffered a traumatic break, didn’t respond well to dental treatment, or is simply too big for the allotted space.

Whatever the reason might be for the prescribed extraction, there are a few things you can expect during and after the procedure.

Before Tooth Extraction

Leading up to the extraction, the dentist will likely have an x-ray taken to determine how to most effectively approach the removal. He or she will also ask for a list of medications, vitamins, and supplements that you take on a regular basis. In some instances, antibiotics will be required prior to surgery, if there is an infection present, a weakened immune system is suspected, or if you have been diagnosed with a certain medical disorder.

During Tooth Extraction

In some cases, a tooth extraction will call for general anesthesia, however in many cases, the dentist can perform the procedure with a localized numbing agent or conscious sedation. If the tooth is visible, a simple extraction will be performed, which means that the dentist will loosen the tooth with a dental tool known as an elevator. Forceps are then used to dislodge it. If the tooth, however, is still beneath the surface (impacted), then an incision must be made into the gums to reach the tooth beneath.

After Tooth Extraction

There will likely be some discomfort after the procedure is complete and the dentist will generally prescribe a pain reliever or suggest an over-the-counter NSAID routine. A light amount of bleeding for a day or so afterward is not uncommon, but should cease relatively quickly. Ice packs can be used to minimize facial swelling and the area should heal within one to three weeks, depending on the type of extraction performed.

For more information about the procedure and the risks, continue reading the full article.

Facts About Wisdom Teeth

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Eek! Just the thought of the troublesome molars at the back of the mouth can send shivers up the spines of even the toughest people. Wisdom teeth come with images of puffy, bruised cheeks, difficulty speaking, and eating through a straw.

However, the removal of these teeth is often of the utmost importance and understanding the science of the wisdom tooth can help make this journey to the dental office a little less scary.

Typically surfacing between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five, wisdom teeth are a third set of molars and usually come in a foursome. However, it is possible to have fewer, and in rare cases, a fifth can join the party. Thirty-five percent of the population will never have wisdom teeth.

Unfortunately, most people today do not have the room in their mouth for the additional number of teeth. Because there is limited space for their growth, these molars tend to grow incorrectly.

In many cases, they will actually become impacted, which is to say that they form horizontally and never break through the gum line. In other cases, only a small portion of the tooth will poke through. Even in the best cases, it is typically recommended that these teeth be removed.

Because human beings are not as prone to losing teeth today as they were in ancient times, these teeth serve no purpose and can actually make one more susceptible to bacterial infections, as they are difficult to keep clean being located to far back into the mouth.

For more information, keep reading.