The Facts About How Getting A Tooth Removed Can Improve Your Dental Health

MANY TIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS A NECESSARY PART OF SHOWING OFF YOUR STRAIGHTER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE
In the days when you were very young, pulling a tooth was a sure sign of a dollar or two from the tooth fairy. Sadly, when you had all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became significantly less fun. There are loads of reasons that you may need a dental extraction to help your dental health, like a tooth that hasn't erupted, to prevent overcrowding, or an infected tooth. Even though a tooth extraction might not seem like a good time, it's no longer as frightening or painful as it once was. Using current methods and many sedation options, MINT dentistry in Grand Prairie makes dental extractions a little easier if you need one. Our dental team in Grand Prairie, TX will carefully assess the tooth prior to determining you need an extraction. When a tooth needs to be extracted, our team works hard to make sure you are comfortable from start to finish. Keep reading to find out about both main types of dental extractions and the top reasons a tooth might have to be removed.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
There are multiple reasons that a tooth may have to get pulled. To begin, your team at MINT dentistry in Grand Prairie will figure out the reason for your oral issue. After that, they will be able to choose which kind of tooth removal best suits your needs. Most dental extractions fall into two primary categories:

• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  A dental care provider will conduct a simple extraction if the crown of the tooth can be seen above the gumline. The tooth is often loosened using a dental tool known as an elevator, and then the tooth and root are removed from the jawbone and gum tissue. This method is typically selected if a tooth is badly infected, extremely decayed, or not able to be saved, or to help with overcrowded teeth.
• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  An extraction surgery will be done if the crown hasn't totally broken out of the gums. This means that an incision is needed to get to the tooth inside the gums. If needed, the tooth may be cut into pieces for a smoother extraction. This method is generally chosen to pull the wisdom teeth or an impacted tooth.

TYPICAL REASONS YOU COULD HAVE TO HAVE A TOOTH EXTRACTED
A lot of different dental issues may result in needing a tooth extraction. One of the most common reasons patients in Grand Prairie, TX would need a tooth extraction is to avoid impaction. Here are many of the other routine reasons you may need a dental extraction:

• WISDOM TEETH
  Most people's back molars, also known as the wisdom teeth, will probably have to be extracted. The human jaw normally isn't big enough fit these additional teeth, so when they begin to grow out of the gum tissue (in most people, from the late teens to early twenties), your dentist could need to perform a surgical extraction. It's important to get the back molars removed as soon as you can, so they don't become impacted or infected. But some people don't need to get their back molars extracted. It's uncommon, but some fortunate patients don't develop all four molars or any whatsoever!
• EXCESSIVE CAVITIES
  In cases where a dental cavity is neglected or not treated promptly, it will often eat into the pulp in the tooth. Although a root canal might possibly be used to save the tooth, it might need to be extracted if the pitting is bad enough to compromise the tooth. A simple extraction can prevent the decay and disease from transferring to other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, finally, your bloodstream.
• INJURY TO THE TOOTH
  Regrettably, injuries can happen to us all, and, occasionally, our teeth might be harmed. Although the best choice is usually to try to preserve the tooth, it isn't always possible. The damage may be caused by a car collision or even an athletic or workplace incident, but whatever the reason, patients in Grand Prairie, TX really need to plan a visit with a dentist if they've experienced an oral injury. It's possible that the damage isn't visible to a nonprofessional.
• TEETH THAT HAVEN'T ERUPTED
  When you have tooth impaction, it signals that there is some sort of problem keeping the tooth from pushing out of the gums. An impacted tooth might be impeded by a baby tooth that still hasn't fallen out on its own, or it may be growing in the wrong direction and is blocked by another adult (permanent) tooth. Based on the reason for the impaction, the dentist may recommend a simple or surgical extraction to alleviate discomfort or keep you from getting an infection.
• OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
  Sometimes, one or more teeth may have to be extracted to prepare for an orthodontic treatment, for example, Invisalign or braces. An orthodontic treatment is intended to adjust the teeth into the correct positions, which could require extracting one or more teeth if there is overcrowding so the others are able to fit. Overcrowded teeth are generally resolved with simple extraction.

RECOVERY PROCESS AFTER GETTING A TOOTH PULLED
In the days after a dental extraction, it's necessary to understand and carefully adhere to your dentist’s healing instructions. A simple extraction will typically need less recovery time than a surgical extraction; however, it will vary according to every specific case. You might be written a prescription for antibiotics to avoid infection, as well as a pain medication. You might opt to go on a soft foods diet for the immediate few days following the procedure, when your mouth is sensitive and healing. This is a good chance to have a little ice cream, but you ought to also use protein shakes, etc., for healthier meals. You must stop using any tobacco products, leading up to and after your treatment, as they can lower your body's capacity to heal. Your dentist may suggest using an antibiotic oral rinse until you can start flossing and brushing again.

THE PATH TO A BETTER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE MAY INCLUDE A TOOTH EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction could be required for several reasons, such as to stop an infection from affecting other teeth, to avoid an impaction, or just to provide your remaining teeth more space. Treating all of these issues at MINT dentistry in Grand Prairie is part of achieving your most attractive smile. Visit our team in Grand Prairie, TX to set up a consultation with our experienced dental professionals to determine whether a simple or surgical extraction could be the optimal choice for your new and improved smile.