Tooth extraction – what you need to know

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. If you are facing a tooth extraction, it can seem a little daunting and nerve-wracking as getting a tooth out is not so easy in some cases. Sometimes tooth extraction is a necessity and recommended by doctors to provide relief from dental problems. Even though permanent teeth are meant to last for a long time or lifetime, there are a number of reasons why tooth extraction may be needed. A very common reason includes a tooth that has been badly damaged from trauma or decay and cannot be repaired.

Consulting a dentist is very essential if you are suffering intolerable pain in your tooth. Taking pain-relieving medications is not a treatment and it does not provide relief for long unless you seek a dentist’s advice and focus on treatment. 

These days, tooth extraction has become a standard dental procedure. The dentist will tell you all about it before taking out the tooth and also prepare you for what to expect and how to take care of your gum and the site afterward.

Some common reasons for pulling out a tooth include:

A crowded mouth - Sometimes dentists pull teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontia. The goal of orthodontia is to properly align the teeth, and this is only possible if the teeth fit in the mouth and are not too big. In the same way, if a tooth cannot break through the gum or erupt normally due to lack of space in the mouth, the dentist may recommend extracting it.

Infection – When tooth decay or damage is not controlled on time and it extends to the pulp, the center of the tooth which contains nerves and blood vessels, it can lead to infection as bacteria can infect the pulp. At times this problem can be handled with root canal therapy but if the infection is severe, the root canal therapy or antibiotics may not be able to cure it and extraction becomes necessary.

Risk of infection – If your immune system has been compromised and you are going through chemotherapy or organ transplant, even a risk of tooth infection is reason enough to pull out a tooth.

Gum disease – If you suffer from gum disease or periodontal disease, an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth, which results in loosening of the teeth, you may need to have the affected tooth extracted.

Before a tooth is pulled, the dentist will give you an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. In some cases, a dentist may use a stronger general anesthetic to prevent pain throughout the body and keep you relaxed during the process.

Tooth extraction process

In some cases, extraction becomes a long process especially when the tooth is impacted. The dentist will cut away the gum and bone tissue that covers the tooth and use forceps to grasp the tooth and to loosen it from the jaw. Sometimes, a hard-to-pull tooth must be removed in pieces.

There are two types of extractions. The doctor may recommend the one depending on the extent of decay and the process most suitable for you:

Simple extraction – It is the removal of a tooth that is visible in the mouth. A general dentist can perform simple extraction easily as it is not a complicated process. During this process, the dentist will numb the tooth and gum tissue and loosen the tooth with an instrument called an elevator before taking it out with dental forceps.

Surgical extraction – It is a more complex procedure used for a tooth that may have broken off at the gum line or has entered not into the mouth yet. Oral surgeons perform surgical extractions but general dentists can also perform them if the facility is equipped for it. During the procedure, the doctor will make a small cut into the gum to remove the underlying teeth.

Dentists often try to save or repair teeth that are broken and damaged with a filling, crown, or other dental treatment but sometimes an extraction is inevitable. Tooth extraction can eliminate bacteria and improve your overall oral health too. With the best dentist to guide you regarding tooth extraction in Plainfield IL, you can avoid further complications like the spread of infections in case the damage is too severe to repair.