If a tooth is significantly damaged or cracked and cannot be restored with a dental restoration such as a crown, tooth extraction may be required. Additionally, because impacted teeth cannot erupt properly, they may need to be pulled.
And you know that getting a tooth pulled or tooth extraction is no fun.
What is tooth extraction?
Tooth extraction is essentially the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. There are a variety of reasons why you might need a tooth extraction, including:
- Severe tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Wisdom teeth
Severe tooth decay
Plaque, which is made up of oral bacteria, can be found all over your mouth. It consumes the same sugars as you do, and as it breaks them down, acids are produced, which eat away at your teeth and cause cavities. Minor cavities can be easily repaired with a filling, but extensive tooth decay can be quite dangerous.
A root canal can heal the most severe cases of tooth decay, but there are times when a tooth becomes so rotten that it loses its stability. Leaving a damaged tooth in place can result in a sudden fracture, which is considerably more painful than extraction!
Extreme situations like these are uncommon, especially because that level of deterioration will almost certainly induce discomfort well before it reaches that point. There are also situations where a decaying tooth causes a bone abscess. While most of these can be treated with a root canal as well, a difficult-to-reach abscess may necessitate extraction.
Gum disease
Gum disease, which is caused by the same oral bacteria that cause tooth decay, is the leading cause of tooth loss. When bacteria from your mouth reaches below your gum line, it creates infections that can lead to gum recession, bone loss, and finally loose teeth, which are a persistent source of pain and misery if left untreated.
When gum disease causes teeth to become severely compromised, there are usually only two options: extraction or waiting for them to fall out on their own. In certain situations, tooth extraction is preferred so that you can recover from gum disease more quickly. After gum disease has healed, teeth that have been extracted owing to gum disease can be excellent reasons for dental implants.
Wisdom teeth
During your teens or twenties, you’ll always have that annoying last tooth, which has earned the ironic moniker of “wisdom teeth.” Some people have these teeth and don’t have any problems, but many people do, and they need to be pulled.
Wisdom teeth that have been impacted are common, painful, and can cause infection and decay. If a partially erupted wisdom tooth develops a cavity, it might cause significant infection. Wisdom tooth decay can easily penetrate the bone, resulting in abscesses and gum disease.
Are you nervous about tooth extraction?
Having teeth extracted isn’t a pleasant process. Dentists at Emergency Dental Center don’t want you to be worried about the prospect of tooth extraction, so they will gladly provide sedation or any other comfort things you may require.
There is a clear and immediate benefit to tooth extraction in every scenario where it is required. The pain you’re experiencing as a result of an infection, trauma, or gum disease can be relieved fast, and the recovery time is insignificant when compared to the consequences of leaving a dangerous tooth in situ.
If you have questions about tooth extraction near you, don’t hesitate to contact us at the Emergency Dental Center at (713)-829-5508 and schedule an appointment for any dental need by filling out our online form. We look forward to helping you!
