In dentistry, the goal is always to preserve patients’ natural teeth. But, in some cases, the only way to gain control of a patient’s oral health is to perform a tooth extraction.
Unlike what is portrayed in movies, a tooth extraction is typically not a painful experience. With precision instruments, local anesthetics, and conscious sedation options, you will likely experience very little in the way of pain.
Have questions about tooth extractions? Contact Decatur Woods Dental in Indianapolis.
It’s easy to forget that underneath the hard dentin and enamel there are nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues that function to keep the tooth healthy. When these soft tissues become affected by advanced periodontal disease, an extraction may be recommended if root canal therapy is infeasible.
In some instances, an extraction is the only way to stop the infection and stop the pain. Teeth are usually extracted due to:
Before recommending an extraction, the dentist will perform either an X-ray or CT scan to determine if there are other viable options (such as root canal therapy).
A dentist may recommend extracting wisdom teeth for several reasons. When a wisdom tooth erupts, there may not be enough space in the arch to accommodate the new teeth, which could lead to issues with crowding. Since wisdom teeth are at the back of the arch, they are also more difficult to keep clean. A wisdom tooth can also become partially erupted or impacted, which may necessitate surgical removal.
While the experience is different from patient to patient, most report that having a tooth pulled does come with some discomfort, but it’s not as painful as they anticipated. Before your tooth is extracted, a local anesthetic will be applied to the extraction site. This will essentially desensitize the nerves. Depending on the procedure and your personal preference, nitrous oxide sedation may also be provided. This sedative has the dual benefit of being both a calming agent and pain reliever.
If a general anesthetic is used for the procedure, you should arrange transportation as some drowsiness can be expected. You will be notified in advance if general anesthesia will be used during the procedure.
When your tooth is extracted, a blood clot will form at the extraction site. If the blood clot becomes dislodged, bleeding will begin again, which can open up the gums and jawbone to infection. You will be provided with aftercare information on how to help the healing process.
For the first 24 hours following your tooth extraction, follow these general guidelines:
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