While pulling teeth is never fun, improving your oral health or relieving discomfort may be necessary. It’s natural to be anxious about getting a tooth pulled after being told you need one. But it depends on why you need a tooth removed and what method your doctor suggests. Both tooth extraction and dental restoration procedures come in a wide variety, with some considered more accessible than others. Keep reading to learn more and get a feel for what to expect!
Why Are Certain Extractions More Difficult Than Others?
The reason specific extractions are more challenging than others is still being determined. Tooth extractions may be either simple or surgical. “simple extraction” refers to a non-surgical method requiring less effort.
When a tooth has “erupted” or broken through the gums and become visible in the mouth, it is considered less precarious for treatment. A dentist may then grasp the tooth with forceps and pull it out without breaking it. Stitches are also not required because it is not essential to make an incision to access the tooth.
Basic Extraction
Teeth damaged by oral trauma, gum disease, or decay frequently need simple extractions. At the same time, we want to save your tooth if, at all possible, extraction may be necessary.
For instance, a root canal may not save a tooth with a severe infection. Instead, your dentist could suggest having an extraction done. Restorative procedures, including dental implants, bridges, and partial dentures, may be used to restore missing teeth.
A space maintainer (an intraoral device) is sometimes recommended after the extraction of a baby tooth to preserve the area for the eventual emergence of the permanent tooth.
Surgical Extraction
Extraction surgery is often advised for severely decayed, ankylosed, or impacted teeth. We suggest that you see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for this procedure. During a surgical extraction, the tooth is accessed by making a tiny incision in the soft tissues and then carefully removing a small amount of the surrounding bone. As with any tooth extraction, patients are given a local anesthetic to numb the area around the damaged tooth completely. New methods of dental sedation, preoperative considerations, and preoperative instructions are thoroughly discussed.
When Should Surgical Extraction Be Done?
The word “surgery” strikes fear in many people since it is associated with invasive procedures performed under full sedation in a hospital setting. However, medical professionals call any method requiring an incision “surgery,” which may include specific tooth extractions.
Sutures and a minor incision to reach an inaccessible tooth are necessary when surgical extraction is desired. The following are some common examples of why this is necessary:
- In this situation, a tooth (often a wisdom tooth) has either not erupted at all or partially burst through the gums.
- When there are pieces of the tooth’s root protruding from the gums.
- A dental elevator may be used when forceps won’t work, such as when a tooth has broken off at the gum line.
Before the tooth can be taken, it may need to be cut into smaller pieces. However, you can be sure that your dentist will take every measure to guarantee your ultimate comfort regardless of the kind of tooth extraction you need.
In addition to local anesthesia, emergency dentists in San Diego may use more sophisticated types of sedation to ensure that you have no discomfort whatsoever.
Even though it’s the last resort, tooth extractions are essential for better oral health and a more aesthetically pleasing smile in the long term. It’s far easier than you may imagine, and modern dentists genuinely do prioritize patient comfort.
Reasons People Usually Have Their Teeth Pulled
- The teeth are too close together.
- The tooth has previously been the target of failed restoration treatments.
- Loss of one or more teeth due to permanent injury.
- Impaction.
- Clinically significant periodontitis.
- Tooth infection or decay of a severe kind.
- Teeth with flaws.
- Planning for dental implants before surgery.
What is the Procedure For Getting Teeth Extracted?
If you need a tooth pulled for whatever reason, you can be sure you’ll be in good hands with us. The first step in getting treatment from Emergency Dentists San Diego is a conversation about your dental and medical history and any other relevant background information.
Please inform our office of any current medical conditions or medications you’re taking. Antibiotic premedication, medication switching, and physician clearance may sometimes be required. Follow our preoperative recommendations, and let us know if you have any symptoms the day before surgery.
When dental extraction is necessary, we want our patients to have the most pleasant experience possible. Before the procedure begins, we will review all preoperative instructions and required medical precautions. We’ll go through post-op care instructions, such as whether or not you should have dentures for any teeth extracted.
We use digital radiography when it’s essential to acquire a complete view of the tooth and decide what sort of extraction is required. Extractions may be categorized as either “simple” or “surgical.”
Should I Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
When there isn’t enough room for them or if they’re growing in at an awkward angle, many people choose to have their wisdom teeth pulled. These issues may affect many facets of health, not just dental. Although some individuals never get their wisdom teeth and others have adequate space for them, many still have third molars that are either wholly or partially impacted. Our team will monitor the development, positioning, and general health of your wisdom teeth and advise you on whether or not they should be extracted.
What to Expect After Extracting a Tooth
Emergency Dentists San Diego are well-trained experts who recognize that every patient is unique and provides individualized treatment appropriately. Each patient receives individualized instructions for what to do after surgery, which may involve bed rest, medication, and doctor’s visits. Postoperative care may include the patient’s primary care physician. Unless otherwise mentioned by our clinic, the following postoperative guidelines apply to simple extractions in general.
Does Getting a Tooth Pulled Hurt?
Each patient and their situation is different. When a tooth and surrounding tissues are numbed with a local anesthetic, the patient will feel pressure but no pain when it is being loosened from its socket in preparation for evacuation. Anxious individuals and those having certain kinds of surgical extractions may benefit from discussing dental sedative options with emergency dentists in San Diego.
What is the Average Cost of Having a Tooth Pulled?
We at Emergency Dentists San Diego take great pains to ensure our services are affordable for anybody in need. Variables such as extraction difficulty and type affect the final cost of extraction. Based on our findings, our experts will recommend the most appropriate course of therapy and discuss payment alternatives with you.
In conclusion, tooth extraction might be distressing, but essential for long-term dental health. The procedure can lessen discomfort, prevent infections, and enhance dental health.