5 Reasons Why You May Need a Tooth Extraction
Our teeth are made to last forever. However, sometimes a tooth extraction is unavoidable due to reasons such as dental trauma, a deep cavity, or periodontal disease. While it’s good to preserve the tooth, sometimes the damage is too much to repair, and the discomfort could be severe. In such a case, tooth extraction might be an ideal remedy.
During a tooth extraction, your dentist can either use simple or surgical extraction. If the tooth is visible or accessible with ease, a simple extraction is recommended. The dentist uses forceps to pull out the tooth. A surgical extraction is used if the tooth is not visible or can’t be easily accessed, for example, broken below the gum line.
With surgical extraction, the dentist can cut through the gums to access the tooth. The tooth can also be broken down for easy removal. For both procedures, anesthesia is used, which should make the process pain-free and comfortable. For tooth extraction near you in Mississauga, contact Dr. Jeff Levman.
5 Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are numerous reasons why a dentist can recommend a tooth extraction. These include:
- – Traumatic Damage
Dental trauma is among the most common reasons for teeth damage. When you’re involved in a severe accident such as a sports injury or car collision, your tooth can fall out, break, or loosen. When faced with dental trauma, you should visit an emergency dentist near you for immediate care. The priority is always to save the tooth with restoration procedures such as dental crowns, veneers, and bonding. However, if the injury is dreadful, tooth extraction may be necessary to aid in recovery.
- – Overcrowding
Overcrowding can affect your smile and self-confidence, making you self-conscious. Overcrowding happens when teeth are too big to fit into the mouth correctly or when the mouth is too small to accommodate the average number of teeth. Due to the limited space, some teeth become crooked. Your dentist might recommend extracting a tooth or two to give more room for other teeth to grow, move, and develop normally.
- – Severe tooth decay
When plaque and tartar build-up in the mouth, they encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, which eats away the tooth’s enamel, causing cavities. With time, the bacteria finds its way into the tooth’s center or pulp, infecting the nerves and other tissues.
Infection in the tooth’s pulp can cause intense pain and swelling. If the tooth infection doesn’t respond to a root canal treatment, the infection can lead to teeth loss and, even worse, spread to other healthy teeth. Tooth extraction is then the best way to remedy this situation.
- – Periodontal disease
Like cavities, periodontal disease is caused by poor dental care and hygiene. When plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth and underneath the gums, they cause inflammation. When not addressed quickly, the condition worsens to periodontal disease, which affects the gums, alveolar bone, periodontal ligaments, and other surrounding structures. When the gums and bone are affected, the firm grip on the teeth is lost, which causes your teeth to loosen and require extraction.
- – Teeth Impaction
A tooth is impacted when it doesn’t have enough room to develop or grow normally. Tooth impaction is common with the third molars, also known as wisdom teeth. Among other side effects, tooth impaction can cause severe pain, overcrowding, and damage to the surrounding teeth, gums, and jawbone.
Similarly, impacted teeth can interfere with orthodontic treatments such as braces and Invisalign™. A dentist might recommend wisdom tooth removal to make room for orthodontic treatment, prevent overcrowding, improve oral hygiene, and prevent damage to the surrounding teeth.
Restoration Treatments
After tooth extraction, it’s best to replace the tooth as soon as possible. A missing tooth can cause facial sagging, impair your ability to speak and chew properly cause jawbone resorption, and cause the adjacent teeth to shift crookedly towards the empty gap. Tooth replacement is highly recommended to prevent these effects. You should discuss the best restoration options with your dentist, including:
- – Dental implants
- – Dental bridges
- – Dentures
Tooth Extractions Aftercare Tips
After teeth extraction, proper dental care and hygiene practices are essential to promote faster recovery and prevent infections. Use these tips to care for your mouth after tooth extraction:
- Bite on the gauze until bleeding stops
- Avoid sucking, spitting, or rinsing for the next 24 hours
- Eat soft foods such as yogurts, soups, eggs, and vegetables
- Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages for the next three days. Tobacco and alcohol may slow down the healing process.
- Brush gently and avoid the extraction area until it heals
- Schedule regular dental exams and cleanings
Schedule Your Appointment Today
For professional dental extractions in Mississauga, ON, contact Dr. Jeff Levman today for more information.