People often go to the dentist with tooth pain. The first thought that often crosses their mind is, “Am I going to lose this tooth?” More often than not, the answer is usually, “No.” That may be because they came quickly enough or a specialist like an endodontist could save it.
That being said, there are some situations where tooth extraction becomes a necessity.
Overcrowded Mouth
There are several reasons why a dentist would want to take out a tooth in an overcrowded mouth. A tooth might be prevented from coming in its usual place. A wisdom tooth might be causing it. A crowded mouth might also hinder orthodontic efforts. The removal of the tooth will make life better overall.
Preventing infection
Sometimes a tooth is found in such a state of decay or is so badly cracked that even the most advanced methods of saving it would not work or even possibly make the situation worse. The dentist may consider s root canal or a course of antibiotics first. If those fail, then extraction is the answer.
Preventing Spread of Infection
The situation may also be changed if the patient that comes in is immuno-compromised or that an infection has already set in. Rather than risk a runaway effect of an infection taking other teeth, the dentist or specialist will extract the tooth.
While every attempt is made to be able to remove the whole tooth, due to certain circumstances, it may need to be taken out in several pieces. After that, the dentist or oral surgeon will put some gauze for the bleeding and also possibly some dissolvable stitches.
It’s important to remember to follow instructions exactly. No rinsing or spitting the first night. After that, warm salt water rinses are allowed. Put ice on the face for 20 minutes at a time to reduce the swelling. If the blood clot that covers the root gets loose, that can create dry socket.
The tooth and jaw area should recover after a few weeks, but if the removed tooth was not a wisdom one, it would be a good idea to get either dentures or a dental implant to keep the other teeth from shifting and creating problems.
Dr. Robert M. Trager is skilled at tooth extraction. He makes every effort to ensure that it goes as smoothly and that any discomfort is kept to a minimum. He will be glad to discuss the state of your teeth during the next appointment. Give him a call: 718-656-4747
