Tooth Extraction Should be a Last Option
If you are missing even one tooth, it can negatively impact your oral health. Besides making you embarrassed about your smile, that missing tooth has the potential to even affect your physical health.
How to Avoid Tooth Extraction
Once you become aware of the possible negative impact caused by missing teeth, you will easily be convinced that daily oral hygiene is an absolute necessity. You can take the first step towards avoiding extraction by faithfully brushing, flossing, and rinsing. You can add to those actions by being consistent with your regular dental exams every six months.
When Does Extraction Become Necessary?
Even when you do everything you can to avoid an extraction, sometimes there is just no other solution. An extraction may be the only solution in the following scenarios:
- When tooth decay reaches advanced stages
- When an infection or abscess has reached an advanced stage
- When gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage
- When teeth have been impacted into your gums
- When you have a seriously fractured tooth.
What if an Extraction Must Be Done?
Dr. Fisher is committed to preserving each of your natural teeth if at all possible. If he reaches the conclusion that he must perform an extraction, he will take x-rays in order to gather the most information possible about your tooth. In a worst case scenario, he may refer you to an oral surgeon for the more difficult extractions.
What Does an Extraction Involve?
The definition of an extraction tells us that the tooth must be removed from its socket in the jawbone. This procedure definitely carries the possibility of discomfort and pain. Fortunately, an experienced dentist who has received the proper training will be able to significantly reduce the pain and anxiety that you may endure. Of course, for the dentist to actually extract the tooth, he will need to apply sufficient force to sever the ligaments that are holding the tooth in its socket. In some cases, the tooth socket will need to be widened in order to finish the extraction. The widening of the tooth socket can be a portion of the extraction that produces discomfort. Other factors that affect the difficulty and discomfort of the extraction include the positioning of the tooth, the strength of the tooth, the level to which the tooth has decayed, and the strength of the ligaments which are holding the tooth in.
After the Extraction
After your dentist and his team have completed the extraction, they will place ice packs on the areas of your face and jaw that have been the most impacted by the extraction. The ice packs will provide welcome relief when they are placed at 15-minute intervals. The dentist will also provide a prescription for a pain killer in case that becomes necessary. After most extractions, the pain will subside significantly within a window of three days to two weeks. You will want to contact your dentist if you continue to experience severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or persistent fever.