No one really wants to talk about having a tooth pulled, but there are times when a tooth extraction is necessary. If a tooth becomes abscessed, decayed, or damaged severely, it may need removal. This is often done to improve or protect your overall health as well as your dental health. Taking good care of your teeth and having them routinely examined can often prevent some causes of tooth extractions. But sometimes a tooth breaks off or is damaged in an unavoidable accident and the best option is removal by a Libertyville, IL dentist.
Most Common Reasons for a Tooth Extraction
There are some very common reasons for tooth extractions and sometimes it’s not even because a tooth has any damage at all. When orthodontists are preparing patients for braces or retainers, they often remove one or more teeth. This allows more room to help shift teeth into proper alignment. Wisdom teeth are often pulled if there isn’t room for them to emerge. Sometimes they can get impacted or infected and it’s better for a patient’s oral health to remove them. If an individual has an accident and a tooth or teeth become too damaged to be repaired, the better option is often a tooth removal. If a tooth is decayed and can be repaired using a filling or a crown that is a good option. But in some instances, a tooth is too damaged to be properly repaired. It must be removed.
The Process of Tooth Removal
There are two ways dentists perform tooth extractions either simple tooth extraction or those requiring a surgical procedure. These are two very different types of procedures. Dr. Ala Dean Attar can explain the difference in more detail or explain why you may need one over the other. Here is what you can expect from each type:
Simple Tooth Extractions – When you can actually see the tooth inside the mouth, it can be removed by simple tooth extraction. This procedure is usually preferred for a tooth that is damaged or decaying badly. It can also be used to prepare a patient for getting braces. A general dentist can perform a simple extraction. The procedure involves being given local anesthesia to deaden the area where the tooth is to be pulled. For those who suffer from dental anxiety, anti-anxiety medications may be used as well. Once the tooth has been pulled over-the-counter medications may be recommended for pain management.
Surgical Tooth Extractions – Oral surgeons perform surgical tooth extractions. This type of tooth removal is necessary when the tooth or teeth are not visible inside the mouth. This is often the case with wisdom teeth or if a tooth has broken off. Patients are given general anesthesia before having the teeth removed surgically. Once the procedure is over, a prescription for pain medications may be given to help manage pain for a few days while the area heals.
What to Expect Following a Tooth Extraction
When you have a tooth pulled at Attar Dental, you’ll be given specific instructions about your aftercare. Be careful to follow the dentist’s instructions as they are given. This can help prevent complications and infections. They will probably include some tips like:
- A soft food diet. Until the anesthesia wears off, you will only want to drink some liquids. After that, you will probably be told to eat only soft foods for a few days after the tooth extraction. This allows the area to heal properly.
- Oral Care. The teeth right next to the area where the extraction occurred should not be brushed on the first day following the procedure. The rest of your teeth, though, will need to be brushed. you will probably be told to resume your normal oral hygiene routine two days after the extraction.
Contact Us
If you are having trouble with a tooth, please make an appointment with Attar Dental. Our team can assess the condition of the tooth and possibly provide preventive care. Sometimes you only need a filling or a crown. If you do need a tooth extraction, there are options such as bridges or partial dentures to use in place of the missing teeth. Schedule your appointment today!
