Tooth extraction is one of the most common dental procedures. At Mahar Dental, we believe in improving your quality of life by providing you with top-notch dental services. When it comes to extracting a tooth, Dr. Mahar will make sure to employ the best practices to improve your overall oral health. What Is a Tooth Extraction?
As the name suggests, tooth extraction is a procedure where your dentist completely removes a tooth from the socket. It is also sometimes referred to as "pulling" a tooth. The procedure is often necessary if your tooth has undergone severe decay or damage. Only by pulling the tooth out can you have a chance at eliminating bacteria and improving your oral health in the long run.
Tooth Extraction Vs. Root Canal
Dealing with a severe toothache isn't easy. The source of pain must be quickly eliminated, whether it's due to decay or infection. While both tooth extraction and root canal are effective methods, their techniques are different.
Tooth extraction deals with the problem by removing the tooth along with the nerve and infected tissue responsible for the pain. A root canal, on the other hand, is a bit more conservative. A root canal removes the damaged tissue and the nerve from inside the tooth. Following this, your doctor will fill the tooth with a special material. However, the procedure isn't painful and hardly induces any discomfort.
Benefits of a Root Canal
There are a number of benefits that make root canals a preferred procedure among patients. For one, they prevent tooth loss and infection in neighboring teeth. Additionally, they're painless and boost your oral health, preventing jawbone degeneration.Benefits of Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction can induce a little pain. However, it does a wonderful job of removing the problem itself. Infections tend to spread rapidly; once the damage is inflicted, it isn't easy to reverse it.The only remedy then is tooth extraction. Furthermore, it's also less costly in the long run because no additional dental services are needed.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. However, not everyone develops them. While they don't usually cause many problems, some people may develop impacted wisdom teeth. This means that there isn't enough room in the mouth for them to develop normally. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage nearby teeth.
What Happens During a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Your dentist may begin by carrying out a dental exam and an x-ray to locate the wisdom tooth. Following this, they may inject a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and surrounding areas. In some cases, they may even give you a sedative to help you relax.
If your wisdom tooth hasn't fully come out through the gum, your dental surgeon will create a small incision in the gum to access it. They may also remove a small piece of bone covering the tooth.
If the tooth has already broken through the gum, your surgeon will not need to make an incision. If it hasn't, they may cut it into smaller pieces to remove it through the opening easily.
You may feel some pressure right before your surgeon removes the tooth. However, once it is removed, the target area will numb. If you feel more pain than usual, let your dental surgeon know so they can give you some more anesthetic. Depending on the complexity of the case, wisdom tooth removal can take anywhere between a few minutes to half an hour.
What Happens After a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Your dental surgeon will most likely place gauze over the target area and instruct you to apply pressure by biting down on your jaw for about an hour. This allows the empty tooth socket to have a blood clot which plays a crucial role in the healing process.
If the infection is ongoing, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics. During the first 24 hours following the procedure, it's important to avoid strenuous physical activity or rinsing your mouth out with any liquid. Your dentist may also recommend avoiding smoking and drinking hot liquids such as soup or tea.
Dental Filling vs Tooth Extraction
Dental fillings can help protect the insides of your tooth by plugging them if there are any holes or decay left from eroded enamel. There are a number of composite materials that mimic the look and feel of enamel without causing any discoloration.
Both dental fillings and tooth extractions are ways to deal with tooth decay. However, tooth extraction may be more appropriate when chronic pain is involved. This is because the tooth may be too weak, diseased, or decayed to handle a dental filling or make it work.
Furthermore, if the cracked tooth is below the gum line, extraction is certainly a wiser intervention. Based on your unique circumstances, your dentist will choose the best course of action for you.
Following an extraction, you will require stitches. You may also experience a dull ache for a few days, during which you must avoid certain food items. However, with a filling, the numbing agent usually wears off quickly. Since there is no significant discomfort involved, you should be able to return to your regular diet as soon as the numbness goes away.
Speaking of longevity, the extraction gap will certainly be there for a lifetime. In the case of a composite filling, the lifespan depends on your general oral hygiene.
Contact Us
It's important to understand that every treatment carries risks. Some cause more pain and discomfort than others. However, choosing the right course of treatment depends on your consultation with our skilled practitioners at Mahar Dental.
Depending on the cause of your tooth decay and underlying health conditions, our professional will create a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Living with a constant toothache can take a toll on your life. Hence, you should never delay treatment.
