When is A Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Tooth extraction is not the kind of procedure you get excited about, and it can seem quite alarming to have your teeth removed from your oral cavity. But at times, it might be necessary to remove your tooth to maintain your oral health. A question that always arises from many people is when exactly is the tooth extraction necessary.

Knowing when tooth extractions are needed can be crucial to someone unsure whether or not they need one. This article discusses when tooth extractions are more often necessary. Keep reading to understand more.

Reasons To Get A Tooth Extraction

Some of the reasons why it is necessary to get a tooth extraction in Peabody, MA at Premier Family Dentistry include:

1. Severe Damage

Sometimes you might have severe damage to your teeth, which leaves no hope but to extract your tooth. The severe damage can be a result of long-term decay. Decay can be caused by excessive cavities or poor dental hygiene. A tooth extraction will remove the dying tooth from your oral cavity so that the rest of your mouth can remain healthy.

2. Impacted wisdom teeth

Another main reason tooth extraction is necessary is if your tooth is impacted. Wisdom teeth, the last four back teeth, are commonly known to become impacted because sometimes there might not be enough room for them to grow in your mouth. These impacted teeth may at times cause pain and discomfort.

Wisdom teeth extraction is thus necessary to reduce the pain and so that the surrounding gums and teeth can stay healthy and not become misaligned.

3. Gum Disease

Sometimes a gum disease might become so severe that your teeth can become infected, which can be very detrimental. Unfortunately, gum disease can go unnoticed because it does not always have noticeable symptoms. That’s why tooth extraction is needed.

If your tooth is infected with gum disease, the only way to keep your oral cavity healthy is by removing the tooth.

4. Reduction of overcrowding

You may need a tooth extraction just because the teeth do not have enough room within your mouth. Each person’s oral cavity is different, and some have smallmouth and thus cannot accommodate all their teeth. For such a case, extraction is necessary to prevent overcrowding from occurring.

Overcrowding can cause your teeth to run into each other, leading to severe pain, discomfort, and even crookedness. Crowding can also lead to cavities, as your teeth run into each other. In addition, some spaces cannot be reached when flossing or brushing. This can cause the build of food particles or bacteria, causing infection.

Types of Tooth Extraction

The tooth extraction procedures can be done in two ways. It can either be a simple extraction or surgical extraction.

For a simple extraction, your dentist in Peabody, MA will numb the area around your teeth sing local anesthesia. This will ensure that you don’t feel any pain or pressure during the procedure. Your dentist then uses a dental appliance called an elevator to loosen your teeth and forceps to remove them.

A surgical extraction is used for impacted wisdom teeth removal. In this case, you will receive both local anesthetic and intravenous anesthetic. The general dentist will use a mall incision to cut into your gums. Your jawbone may have to be removed, or your tooth cut before being extracted.

What Is The Recovery Period After A Tooth Extraction

It takes at most a week to recover following a tooth extraction procedure. However, you need to follow the steps below after tooth extraction in Peabody, MA, to ensure a smooth recovery.

• Apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce the swelling after the procedure. Place the ice pack for at least ten minutes each time.
• Adhere to your prescribed dosage, including the over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Relax and rest for 24 hours following the procedure.
• Avoid using a straw for the first 48 hours
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid rinsing your mouth for 24 hours following the procedure, and spit out gently.
• Brush and floss normally, but avoid the extraction site.
• Prop your head with a pillow when you lie down or sleep.
• Eat sot foods such as pudding, yogurt, and applesauce.
• After 24 hours following the procedure, rinse our mouth with a warm salt solution.
• After a few days, you can slowly introduce the other food types.