Do you have tooth decay that fillings, root canals, or fluoride treatments can’t fix? Do you need to get a dental extraction so you can maintain healthy teeth? Before you go through with the procedure, educate yourself on dental extractions first.
Depending on your dental situation, you may need to undergo one of two types of tooth extractions. Below is a guide that will help you understand the two types of dental extractions. We also included some tips on dental extraction aftercare and recovery.
Why You Would Need Dental Extractions
If food gets stuck in your teeth often, it’s a sign you have unhealthy teeth. Even if you often brush, floss, and clean your teeth, food can get caught in a hidden cavity. Later, it can cause the affected tooth or teeth to rot and need extraction.
In most situations, you’d want your teeth to stay in your mouth. Yet, sometimes, your oral health will improve if you get certain teeth extracted. Dental extractions occur when you’ve got damaged teeth that affect your oral health. Tooth breakage that makes restoration difficult also needs extraction.
In other cases, you may have infections like tooth decay. When the infection in a decayed tooth is too bad, you’ll need to pull it out. This removes the risk of developing more serious mouth diseases and pain in the gums and nerves.
The same applies to teeth that are at risk of tooth infection. If you have gum disease or infected gums, it can also be grounds for dental extraction. It occurs when the infected gums can’t hold the tooth well.
If you have overcrowded teeth, your dentist may recommend that you get a tooth extraction. This is to make space for the remaining teeth and to ease the patient’s pain. Finally, you’ll need dental extractions for impacted teeth and wisdom teeth.
Simple Tooth Extraction
Tooth extractions come in two types with the first being simple dental extraction. Simple tooth extraction is quite straightforward. The dentist will inject local anesthesia and use dental tools to pull out the tooth.
Simple extractions often occur when the tooth is visible and can get pulled. The dentist will use an elevator to loosen the tooth and forceps to pull it out. Since the dentist doesn’t have to make an incision on your gum, you won’t need stitches.
This procedure often involves removing diseased teeth that fillings can’t fix. Fracture teeth are also common reasons to get a simple extraction. If you value appearances, you can get your teeth pulled and later have more attractive implants attached.
Recovery for a simple extraction is faster and easier. You’ll only need to take the day off of work or school. You can also get over-the-counter or prescription medication to help manage the pain.
Surgical Dental Extraction
What happens if the dentist can’t pull out a damaged tooth because it has yet to breach the gums? For more complicated or cases, you’ll need to get the other type of dental extraction. It is the surgical tooth extraction.
Surgical tooth extractions often occur when a tooth isn’t visible in the mouth. It includes taking out wisdom teeth. If you want to get braces, you first need to remove unerupted teeth or teeth that aren’t visible yet.
When a dentist performs this type of extraction, he will make an incision in the connective tissues in the gums. It will then allow the dentist to remove the tooth. Sometimes, a dentist needs to cut the tooth or bone tissue around it into smaller portions to remove it.
Surgical extraction procedures are more difficult and will cost you more. It’ll also take more time to prepare, like getting an X-ray of your teeth. You’ll get stitches from the procedure, so you’ll need more time for healing.
What to Consider When Getting Dental Extractions
Before you undergo a dental extraction, you may wonder, does getting a tooth pulled hurt? In most cases, your dentist will give you anesthesia to manage the pain. With oral extractions, you can pick from a variety of sedation options, including:
- Local anesthesia
- Nitrous oxide or laughing gas
- Twilight anesthesia (via IV)
- General anesthesia
Next, consider the health of your teeth. If your other teeth are getting affected by a decayed tooth, get the tooth extracted as soon as you can. If you’re undergoing surgery, read more on steps for preparing for oral surgery.
Another thing you need to consider is the cost of dental extraction. Check with your insurance agency and ask if your insurance policy covers dental extraction. It’d also be wise to check with your medical insurance carrier if they also cover dental extractions.
Tips for Tooth Extraction Recovery
Aftercare is an important step when you get a tooth extraction. The steps will differ depending on the type of extraction and the location of your tooth. The timeframe for complete healing is between a few hours and ten days.
Always make it a point to follow your dentist’s advice on extraction aftercare. It includes leaving the initial gauze pad in place for a few hours and applying a cold compress to the area. Take a day or days off of work or school so you can rest and allow your body to recover from the procedure.
A blood clot will form in your gums after the procedure. Don’t dislodge it, since it can cause a dry socket which can be painful. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or using a straw for 24 hours after the extraction.
Your dental situation can keep you from getting a job. 28% of Millennials find it difficult to secure a job because of the appearance of their teeth. Getting braces or implants is the typical next step after dental extraction procedures.
Consider also what your dentist will recommend you. It’s not healthy to have gaps in your teeth. This can cause the rest of the teeth to “drift or grow apart,” leaving spaces between each one. Get dentures or implants if your dentist tells you to.
Get a Dental Extraction to Maintain Your Oral Health
That ends our guide on the different types of dental extractions. We hope you now know what kind of tooth extraction will suit you best.
Do you want to learn more about oral surgery services? If you’d like to read more on the things you need to know about oral surgeries, check out our blog. We’ve got more content to help you understand all you need to know about dental surgery.
Contact us here if you have questions or if you’re thinking about getting oral surgery.
Recent Comments