Tooth Extractions: When They’re Necessary and What to Expect

Some may have experienced it as the act of tying a rope to their tooth and yanking it off with a door. Others have gone through the less swift route of having a dentist pull it out. Either way, tooth extraction is no new procedure in the dental field, and there are many reasons why it’s important.

From loose and damaged teeth to gum diseases, there are many triggers for tooth extraction, and if this is delayed, it can cause severe pain and discomfort. Today’s article offers an insight into tooth extraction, its causes, and the process behind it.

When Does Tooth Extraction Become Necessary?

One thing to note is that any Dorking dentist will strive strive to save patients’ teeth. When simple cleaning isn’t enough, restorative procedures like dentures and dental fillings are sought. However, when these aren’t enough as well, tooth extraction becomes inevitable, and here are 5 reasons why:

1. Severe Tooth Decay

Once any tooth begins to decay, it’s curtains. Tooth decay, especially its severe form, starts with holes in the teeth that allow for damage to the nerves and vessels supplying the dentition. Once severe, the affected tooth has to be extracted and the holes filled up to prevent further damage.

2. Severe Gum Disease

Sometimes it’s not the tooth that’s the problem but the gum it’s resting on. If the gums are affected by poor oral hygiene, it could lead to severe pain and damage to the jaw bone. Also, the tooth will be affected and eventually removed.

3. Crowded Teeth

In some instances, the teeth aren’t damaged or injured, but they still cause discomfort and affect your appearance. That’s what happens with crowded teeth. In this case, some teeth have to be removed to create space for others and, at the same time, to improve teeth alignment and the overall appearance of the teeth.

4. Dental Injuries

There are more severe dental problems that beg for a tooth extraction procedure. For instance, you could encounter a dental injury that causes the tooth to be displaced out of the socket. The medical term you’re looking for here is avulsion, and in some severe cases, this tooth displacement can affect neighbouring bones negatively.

5. Fractured Tooth

This happens when a crack appears in your tooth. In most cases, a cracked tooth can be harmless as it is small and almost invisible. However, it is when these cracks become bigger that they truly need attention. Fractures can lead to a split or tear in the tooth, so it’s not long before they need to be extracted.

What to Expect During Tooth Extraction

Before getting to the extraction point, an X-ray is done to determine the extent of damage and the affected areas. Once this has been established, the process begins with the administration of anaesthesia to numb the affected area. The dentist carefully proceeds to extract the tooth from its socket, and the latter is cleaned and disinfected.

In essence, the process aims to eliminate the root problem and also restore the tooth socket to a healthy state.

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