What Are Tooth Extractions About?
According to a recent study, experts estimate that over 20 million teeth are extracted each year in the United States. Tooth extraction is the removal or extraction of a tooth from the mouth.
Some reasons for a tooth extraction could be periodontal disease or a dental emergency. The most common extractions are usually wisdom tooth removal. Many a young adult has gone through the process of having these often-superfluous teeth removed.
A tooth might also be extracted because of damage caused by breakage or decay. Patients with advanced gum disease may be considered for this procedure as well.
In each case, the end goal is to save what can still be saved. Sometimes, keeping a tooth in can put the rest of your teeth at risk. Below are some common reasons for tooth extraction.
Accidents & Injury
It could happen at any time. Even if you take outstanding care of your teeth, accidents are just waiting to happen. Accidents might leave you with a chipped or fractured tooth. If the trauma is excessive and it is beyond repair, we may recommend extracting it.
Infected Tooth
If it isn’t too late, a root canal can usually save an infected tooth. But, if it isn’t treated in time, you can end up with a dead and weakened tooth. In this state, it becomes a hazard to your mouth and might need extraction. If your tooth is in pain, treat it before the pain goes away. Loss of pain only means the infection has fully killed the tooth’s nerves!
Budgetary Reasons
Sometimes it is more affordable simply to remove a tooth than to restore it. Dental restoration can occasionally be outside of the budge. In these cases, it may be best to remove the problem tooth. This takes away the problem and gives you time to build a way to replace the tooth later.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
For many individuals today, wisdom teeth have become entirely superfluous. When we don’t lose our adult molars, there rarely is room for your wisdom teeth to come in. This final set of molars once served a purpose, but now they often require extraction.
During teenage to early adult years, we can determine if your mouth will have room for wisdom teeth. If not, extraction is the best option. Otherwise, you risk them becoming impacted. When this happens, you likely will experience moderate to severe pain.
Tooth Extraction Process
Tooth extraction can be done using local or general anesthesia. The choice depends on the situation and what will keep you most comfortable as our patient.
Many patients worry about the pain. In fact, the extraction itself is usually painless. It even gets rid of a tooth that had been causing you pain before.
After the Extraction: Recovery
The recovery process will depend on the tooth extracted and the condition it was in. Typically, you can expect some swelling and soreness at the extraction site. Over the coming days, this will decrease. During recovery, we advise sticking with soft foods for some time.
After your extraction, we will provide you with a full list of instructions to ensure you heal as quickly as possible. Total healing time is anywhere from about a week to several weeks. We will give you a timeline of what your recovery should look like.
Tooth Extraction Rancho Cucamonga
Timely tooth extraction can not only get rid of a source of pain but also benefit your oral health as a whole. When teeth that need to be extracted are ignored, they can cause a whole range of problems and make the situation worse. If you think you might need a tooth extraction, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment today.
When time is of the essence, we offer same-day extractions for emergency situations. When you come into our office, we will first look to see if there are any ways to save your tooth. Before extracting a tooth, we always provide our patients with all their options and keep them informed every step of the way.
