Tooth extraction can become necessary for a variety of reasons. Your tooth may be infected or damaged, or you may need your wisdom teeth to be taken out before they become impacted and infected, causing further problems. How do you know if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. William P. Huckin in Dallas, TX explains.
A Last Resort
Good dentists view tooth extraction as a last resort, which is why we take care to make sure we provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems. We want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. If conservative methods have failed or we don’t believe that they’re feasible, that’s when a tooth extraction will be suggested.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may need to be removed. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been extremely damaged due to injury, the tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also taken out when your smile is found to be overcrowded and it is causing problems with your day-to-day life. Overcrowded teeth can make proper teeth cleaning difficult leading to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. They can also become cracked or broken, causing pain, if the overcrowding continues.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion, the clinical name for when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can be the cause of many oral health problems, particularly disorders of the temporomandibular system, more commonly known as the TMJ. An even bite that meets where it’s supposed helps even out the pressure on your teeth, reducing the chances of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth typically erupt in the late teens or early twenties and often cause problems when they emerge. It’s more likely than not to have your wisdom teeth removed. Very few people are able to keep their wisdom teeth throughout their lifetime without any issues. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and are more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also get impacted in your jaw. This means that it’s at an odd angle and is stuck mostly under the gums, causing problems with your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time through a surgical procedure. You’ll be sedated and the wisdom teeth will be removed before they cause too many problems.
The Extraction Process
For a simple tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being removed. If you suffer from dental fear, we offer sedation dentistry options to make sure you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
When you’re numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be slowly severed and the tooth will be rocked back and forth gently in the socket until it can be easily removed. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the cavity and also helps to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Dallas, TX
Have a tooth that may need to be removed? Call us at 214.216.6577 or schedule an appointment online.