Types of Dental Extractions and Why You Need Them
Dental extractions are sometimes necessary in adulthood and cannot be avoided. The procedure is now more common than ever before and is considered a much better option than other restorative treatments.
There are many reasons why you would need a dental extraction, including tooth decay, damage, or serious injury. The dentist will simply pull the tooth to ensure that it doesn’t cause damage to the other teeth or gums. Since gums have a natural repairing quality, dentists suggest dental extractions to be safe and feasible. However, not all dental extractions result from damage or untreated infections. It is common for patients to have their wisdom teeth extract to prevent overcrowding or pain if the wisdom tooth doesn’t erupt properly. Wisdom teeth are located at the back of your mouth and serve no meaningful purpose so it is a better option to extract them to prevent damage to the functional teeth.
Why Do You Need A Dental Extraction?
Apart from damage and injuries, dental extractions are needed for the following reasons:
Crowded Teeth
As we grow up, the chances of crowded teeth increase. If you have all four wisdom teeth, there is a chance that your mouth gets crowded and the other teeth start overlapping one another. This may eventually cause problems in chewing and biting and also lead to a crooked smile. The dental extractions prepare the mouth for orthodontia, which means the alignment of teeth.
Infection
Damaged or decaying teeth can extend to the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth and cause infection. The bacteria in the mouth may build up, causing an infection, which can take over the gums and eventually lead to serious diseases. Pulling the infected tooth is often a preferable option to prevent worse conditions.
Risk of Infection
Sometimes, even the risk of infection may result in a need for dental extraction. This happens if the patient
Gum Disease
Periodontal gum disease is an infection in the bones and tissues that support the teeth. Infected gums may not be able to hold the tooth, making it painful to chew or bite. This is when dental extraction might be helpful.
Types of Extraction
There are two types of dental extractions – simple and surgical.
A simple dental extraction is the one in which dental tools are used to pull out the tooth. It is used for the teeth that are visible and easily accessible. Dentists use local anesthesia for the procedure.
On the other hand, a surgical extraction is performed when the damaged tooth is not accessible and is impacted. It requires an incision in the connective tissue so that the tooth can be removed.
We recommend dental extractions at our dental offices only when all other procedures will not work. This is because we want our patients to keep their teeth to protect their smile. When you do have an extraction, we will give you the support and proper care needed to heal quickly with as little discomfort as possible. A wisdom tooth extraction is a relatively routine procedure. The dentist will numb the area in your mouth with a local anesthesia or sedation so you are asleep during the procedure.
5 Tips For How To Heal Without Complications
- Don’t smoke, the inhaling required to smoke could disrupt the healing tissue and cause the socket to dry.
- Don’t drink through a straw. Similarly to smoking, drinking through a straw causes suction that can disrupt the healing tissue.
- When cleaning your teeth it is best to not brush the gums where the tooth was extracted. It is recommended to rinse your mouth with water to remove any food that may be in the area.
- Eat soft foods and avoid hard or chewy foods. Softer foods will be easier to eat such as smoothies, yogurt and soup.
- Take an anti-inflammatory over the counter medication before the anesthetic wears off. This can reduce both pain and swelling, which is common after dental extractions.
Affordable Dental Extractions
Johnson Family Dental has affordable dental plans for extractions to ensure that patients receive quality oral healthcare. If you are living in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Ventura, Camarillo, Port Hueneme or Goleta, you can find our dental offices near you.
Your teeth deserve the best care. Our dentists make sure to choose the best option for you. We allow an open communication environment, so you can discuss what is best for you with your dentist.
