The idea of having a tooth pulled out is perceived to be painful. Many avoid tooth extraction because the thought of it is always associated with pain. This is the main reason why most patients have developed dentophobia, the fear of dentists. They go the extra mile to ensure that their teeth stays in top shape as they practice good oral hygiene. However, they skip the regular dental visits and avoid going through simple and complex dental procedures. Skipping an oral prophylaxis for example could potentially damage the teeth, and eventually lead to have the tooth extracted.
Dentists do not recommend to have your tooth extracted unless the tooth is severely damaged or beyond saving. There are several reasons why tooth extractions are necessary. One of the reasons is when you have an impacted wisdom tooth. Wisdom tooth extraction is done by your dentist in order to avoid or prevent more damage.
Reasons why you need a tooth extraction
As mentioned above, there are reasons why it is absolutely a necessity to have a tooth extraction. Here is a list of common reasons why extractions are needed:
- Tooth decay is a common reason why your dentist will need to remove your tooth. The level of decay may vary. Your dentist in Waterloo Ontario will need to evaluate this properly.
This is to see if the tooth could still be saved or not. In some cases, the dentist recommends a root canal treatment to save your tooth. - Extra teeth get extracted when too many are present for the size of your dental arches or jaw. This situation is known as overcrowding. Extraction is necessary to ensure that all your other teeth will have enough space for proper alignment and growth.
- Wisdom tooth extraction is done when your dentist identifies that you have an impacted wisdom tooth. This happens when your wisdom tooth grows in an incorrect position. It causes pain and damage to your neighboring teeth. Patients experience headaches and pain in their jaw which are the common signs of an impacted wisdom tooth.
If you have these symptoms, it is advisable that you consult your dentist to see if your wisdom tooth is impacted.
- Removal of temporary teeth. Some patients have not lost their temporary or “baby teeth” as they were growing up. This might result in alignment issues and prevent the permanent teeth to properly erupt and grow. In this case, your dentist will recommend a tooth extraction. This is to ensure that your permanent teeth will erupt in the right position.
Extraction process
Your dentist examines your tooth to assess the position of the roots. He will also check on the condition of the surrounding bone to avoid possible complication after the dental procedure. Your medical history is also being looked into, ensuring that you are healthy enough to undergo the extraction procedure.
Every tooth extraction needs local anesthesia. Your dentist will discuss the levels of anesthesia, depending on the kind of tooth that needs to be extracted. The anesthesia numbs the surrounding area of the tooth, including the jaw bone and gum tissues.
Other forms of sedative may be necessary depending on the patient’s condition. Examples of these are oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation. An IV sedation is used for complex procedures such as an impacted wisdom tooth extraction. You may not remember what happened during the surgery as the sedation wears off.
The dentist will be very careful not to damage the bone that surrounds the tooth that needs extraction. Sometimes, he uses the laboratory-processed bone graft materials to cover the bone socket and preserve the bone volume. This is done when the patient wants to have a dental implant to replace the extracted tooth. The implant gets fused with the patients’ jawbone.
Tooth extraction aftercare
Your tooth socket is covered with a sterile gauze pad after the extraction. It is advised that you apply gentle pressure for about 10-20 minutes to manage the bleeding. Please note that there is some mild to moderate post-operative discomfort or swelling. You can buy anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or aspirin, upon the advice of your dentist. They are commonly used to help you manage the pain.
Lastly, your dentist will prescribe some antibiotics to prevent any tooth extraction infection.
It’s good to have clarity as to when you would need to have your tooth removed. Now, let go of that tooth pain that’s trying to stop you from being your best. Go ahead, visit your dentist today and see if you need to have a tooth removal.
