Individuals with excessive tooth pain or those who have extensive tooth decay may wonder if their pain or decay will lead to the need for a tooth extraction. No one wants to have a tooth pulled, but in some cases, it is necessary to extract a tooth in order to maintain overall oral health. There are also situations in which a tooth may need to be pulled because there simply is not enough room in the mouth for all teeth to fit and remain properly aligned. Wisdom teeth that are impacted or are crowding the mouth may also need to be extracted.
If you are concerned that you may need a tooth extraction due to pain, decay, crowding or impaction, the first thing you need to do is to visit your dentist. In most cases, a dentist will do whatever is necessary to save the tooth rather than pulling it out. This may mean that you’ll need a root canal, if the pain is stemming from decay deep within the root of the tooth, or you may need to cover the tooth with a crown if the tooth is badly decayed or cracked.
For the most part, if there is any way that the dentist feels that the tooth can remain securely anchored to your jawbone without jeopardizing your oral health and functioning, he or she will do what it takes to keep the tooth intact. However, in some situations, it is in your best interest to have a tooth extraction performed. If the tooth is badly broken or the decay or infection within a tooth cannot be contained, pulling the tooth and replacing it with a tooth replacement option is preferable to keeping the tooth in your mouth. If there is not enough room for the tooth and it is negatively affecting the alignment of all other teeth in your mouth, it may be time for the tooth to come out as well.
Although the idea of having a tooth pulled may evoke fear in some people’s minds, the fact is that the procedure is typically quick and relatively painless. A local or general anesthetic will be used, depending on the specifications of the procedure to be performed and the wishes of the patient. For those who are very nervous about having the procedure done, sleep sedation is another option. In this case, the patient is unaware of what is happening as the extraction is taking place and then simply “wakes up” once the procedure is completed.
Recovery from most tooth extraction procedures is also quicker and less painful than most people envision. Aside from having to lay off solid foods on the side where the extraction occurred for a little while, you may have only minor discomfort and some minimal swelling for a couple of days. The dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions, but often all you need to do is to relax, take a couple of painkillers and place ice on the outside of the face where the extraction occurred if there is any swelling. You will also be provided with instructions on keeping the area clean and promoting healing.
If you need a tooth extraction, there is no need to worry. This procedure is very common and will likely result in far less discomfort than anything you may be imagining in your head.
For more information about tooth extractions, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
