Learn All About How Getting A Tooth Extracted Can Improve Overall Dental Health

Reasons For A Tooth Extraction

OFTEN, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS STEP ONE OF FLAUNTING YOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE
Years ago, when you were still a little kid, losing a tooth signaled a visit from the tooth fairy. However, as soon as you had all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became much less enjoyable. There are numerous reasons that you may need a tooth extraction to improve your dental health, like tooth impaction, to stop overcrowding, or a decayed tooth. While a dental extraction may not be a good time, it's no longer as intimidating or uncomfortable as it once was. With current methods and multiple sedation options, MINT dentistry in Humble makes tooth extractions a bit easier in case you need one. Our staff in Humble, TX will carefully assess the tooth before suggesting an extraction. If a tooth has to be pulled, our team strives to make sure you are comfortable from start to finish. Keep reading to find out about both main methods of dental extractions and the leading reasons why a tooth or teeth might have to be pulled.

TYPES OF TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are numerous reasons that a tooth might have to get extracted. First, your team at MINT dentistry in Humble will diagnose the cause of your oral problem. Then, they will be able to decide which kind of tooth removal best fits your needs. Almost all tooth extractions fit into two primary categories:

  • SURGICAL EXTRACTION
    A surgical extraction will be used if the crown hasn't totally erupted through the gums. This means that an incision is necessary to reach the tooth inside the gums. If needed, the tooth could be cut into pieces for a less invasive removal. Extraction surgery is usually used to remove the back molars or a nonerupted tooth.
  • SIMPLE EXTRACTION
    Your dental care provider will conduct a simple extraction if the crown of the tooth has erupted above the gums. It is often loosened using a dental tool known as an elevator before the tooth and root are taken out of the jawbone and gums. This technique is usually selected if a tooth is severely infected, very decayed, or damaged beyond repair, or to help with overcrowded teeth.

STANDARD REASONS YOU COULD NEED TO HAVE A TOOTH EXTRACTED
A lot of different dental issues may result in having to get a tooth extraction. One of the leading reasons adults in Humble, TX will require a tooth extraction is to head off impaction. These are many of the other standard reasons you may need a dental extraction:

  • OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
    In many cases, one or more teeth may have to be extracted to prepare for an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or braces. An orthodontic treatment is intended to adjust the teeth into their straightest alignment, which may mean pulling one or more teeth if there is overcrowding so the remaining teeth can fit. Tooth overcrowding is typically addressed with simple extraction.
  • SEVERE CAVITIES
    If a cavity is left untreated or not treated in time, it will likely extend into the pulp within the tooth. While a root canal might possibly be performed to preserve the tooth, it may have to be taken out if the decay is extensive enough to compromise the tooth. A simple extraction may prevent the decay and infection from spreading to other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, eventually, your blood.
  • WISDOM TEETH
    Your back molars, also known as the wisdom teeth, will probably need to be pulled. The human jaw generally isn't large enough to fit these particular teeth, so if they start to grow out of the gum tissue (in most people, during the late teens to early twenties), your dentist could suggest a surgical extraction. It's best to have your wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible, before your teeth get impacted or infected. But certain individuals don't have to get their third molars removed. It's uncommon, but some fortunate people don't grow all four molars or any whatsoever!
  • TRAUMA TO THE TOOTH
    Sadly, injuries can happen to the best of us, and, sometimes, our teeth might be damaged. Although the first solution is usually to try to preserve the tooth, it isn't always possible. The trauma might be a result of a car accident or maybe a sports or workplace accident, but no matter the reason, patients in Humble, TX really need to arrange a consultation with a dental practitioner if they've experienced a mouth injury. It's possible that the damage might not be noticeable to a nonprofessional.
  • TEETH THAT HAVEN'T ERUPTED
    When patients have tooth impaction, it indicates there is some type of blockage preventing the tooth from breaking through the gum tissue. An impacted tooth might be impeded by a primary tooth that still hasn't come out naturally, or it could be developing in an irregular direction and is obstructed by a neighboring permanent tooth. Depending on the cause of the impaction, the dentist can suggest a surgical or simple extraction to ease pain or avoid an infection.

RECOVERY TIME FOR GETTING A TOOTH PULLED
Following a tooth extraction, it's crucial to pay attention to and diligently follow your dentist’s recovery instructions. A simple extraction will typically have less recovery time than a surgical extraction, but it is going to vary according to each unique case. You may be given a prescription for antibiotics to avoid infection, as well as a pain reliever. You might want to go on a soft foods diet for the immediate couple of days following the extraction, while your gums are sensitive and recovering. This is a good chance to indulge in a little ice cream, but you ought to also make protein shakes, etc., to eat more nutritious foods. You should avoid using any tobacco products, before and after your procedure, because they may lower your body's capacity to heal. Your dentist might tell you to use an antibiotic oral rinse until you given the okay to go back to flossing and brushing again.

THE ROAD TO A BETTER, SEXIER SMILE MIGHT INCLUDE A TOOTH EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction could be performed for many reasons, including to stop decay from spreading, to treat an impaction, or just to provide your other teeth more space. Taking care of all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Humble is key to achieving your sexiest smile. Contact our practice in Humble, TX to schedule a consultation with our experienced dental professionals to determine if a simple or surgical extraction could be the optimal answer for your dental health.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.