Patients may need to have a tooth extraction in order to protect their oral health in cases of damage or disease. If this is needed, your dentist will inform you of the issue that is causing the need for tooth extraction as well as prepare you for the procedure itself.
Common Causes of Tooth Extractions
If a tooth is severely compromised due to decay or injury and cannot be repaired, it may be necessary to extract the tooth. Similarly if infection or advanced gum disease is present, tooth extraction may also be indicated.
When patients have crowded teeth and are planning to pursue orthodontic treatment to straighten the smile, it may also be necessary to extract a tooth to create room to achieve the desired alignment of the teeth.
Additionally, impacted teeth that have not erupted properly typically need to be removed. This is most common with the wisdom teeth but can affect other teeth as well.
What To Expect From A Tooth Extraction
There are two types of extractions, simple and surgical. With a simple extraction, the dentist will just administer the local anesthetic and pull out the tooth. With surgical extractions, needed for impacted teeth, bone must be removed in order to access and extract the tooth. This typically requires some type of sedation or general anesthesia.
You should also be prepared for self-care after the procedure. You will receive detailed instructions for keeping the extraction site clean, as well as any restrictions that you may have afterward. For example, you may be instructed to eat a softer diet for a few days to give yourself a chance to heal, or to avoid vigorous activity. You should also refrain from using a drinking straw or smoking tobacco products for a period of time after a tooth extraction, as these activities can disrupt the formation of the protective blood clot and cause a painful complication known as dry sockets.
Your provider will thoroughly review all of these instructions with you, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have. You can also call our office at any time if you want to discuss a symptom that you’ve developed or any other aspect of your care.
If you think that you may need to have a tooth extracted, visit the office of Dr. David Kuban for an evaluation.
