Yes, we know. Nobody likes to hear the word “extraction.” It sounds like an unpleasant and painful event that you should avoid at all costs. But dental extractions are often necessary for a variety of reasons which we shall explore in this article. We want you to be informed about everything before you decide to remove a tooth or two.
Why do we sometimes insist on an extraction?
There are several reasons why we might recommend that you have your tooth(s) extracted. The most common is because they’re badly decayed, and the nerve has died, making them impossible to restore with a filling or crown. Even though it may be possible to save some teeth by root canal treatment, there’s always the risk of another abscess occurring in future months or years, so many patients opt for extraction instead if this is available as an option.
Another reason could be overcrowding. If all seven permanent molars haven’t come through yet, then perhaps one needs removing too to allow others space to emerge into place correctly – maybe even two!
What to expect during the procedure
The extraction itself is quite quick, usually taking only a few minutes. The tooth(s) are removed using either an elevator or extraction forceps and have to be cut off if they’re being stubborn! We’ll rinse the mouth with sterile saline solution afterward to eliminate any blood or debris, which will help your healing process as much as possible.
After the extraction, you may experience some discomfort for a couple of days. We’d advise taking regular pain relief medication to help with this and avoid hot food or drink until your mouth has healed up at least two weeks later. Be careful when brushing your teeth as they could be very tender, so let them have time out if necessary! You will also have a lot of blood-stained saliva at first, so you’ll need to spit carefully into something rather than expectorate it.
The last thing we want to do as a dentist removes teeth from our patient’s mouth. But it’s often necessary, and we hope this blog post has helped explain why dental extractions are sometimes needed for different reasons like crowding or decay. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to call our office anytime!
