The Truth About Why Getting A Tooth Removed Can Help Overall Oral Health

MANY TIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS A VITAL STEP IN GETTING YOUR SEXIER, HEALTHIER SMILE
Years ago, when you were a child, pulling a tooth was a sure sign of a dollar or two from the tooth fairy. However, once you got all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became much less enjoyable. There are loads of reasons why you may require a dental extraction to maintain your dental health, such as tooth impaction, to avoid overcrowding, or a decayed tooth. Even though a tooth extraction might not be a good time, it's not as scary or uncomfortable as it used to be. With contemporary techniques and multiple sedation choices, MINT dentistry in Pasadena makes dental extractions a little easier if you need one. Our dental staff in Pasadena, TX will thoroughly evaluate the affected tooth or teeth before determining you need an extraction. When a tooth needs to be taken out, our staff will make sure you stay relaxed from start to finish. Read on to find out about the two techniques of dental extractions and the leading reasons why a tooth may need to be pulled.

TYPES OF TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are a number of reasons why a tooth may have to get removed. To begin, your team at MINT dentistry in Pasadena will establish the reason for your dental symptoms. Then, they will be able to decide what kind of tooth extraction best suits your case. Almost all dental extractions are based on two primary categories:

• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  Your dental care provider will perform a simple extraction if your tooth can be seen over the gumline. The tooth is often loosened by a tool known as an elevator before the tooth and root are removed from the jawbone and gum tissue. A simple extraction is generally chosen when a tooth is badly infected, very decayed, or damaged beyond repair, or to address overcrowding.
• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  An extraction surgery will be performed if the tooth hasn't totally erupted through the gumline. This means that an incision is required to extract the tooth below the tissue. If needed, the tooth may be divided into several pieces for a smoother removal. A surgical extraction is generally utilized to take out the back molars or a tooth that hasn't erupted.

COMMON REASONS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A TOOTH REMOVED
Several types of oral problems could result in needing a tooth extraction. One of the top reasons people in Pasadena, TX would get a dental extraction is to head off tooth eruption failure. These are a few of the additional standard reasons you might need a tooth extraction:

• MOLARS
  Most people's back molars, commonly known as the wisdom teeth, will probably have to be removed. The human jaw normally isn't big enough fit these additional teeth, so when they start to grow out of the gums (typically from ages 15 – 22), your dentist may recommend a surgical extraction. It's important to have the back molars removed as soon as you can, so they don't get infected or impacted. However, a small number of men and women don't have to get their third molars pulled out. It's uncommon, but some lucky people don't develop all four wisdom teeth or any whatsoever!
• TOOTH IMPACTION
  When patients have tooth impaction, it indicates there is some kind of obstruction preventing the tooth from pushing out of the gum tissue. An impacted tooth may be stuck behind a primary tooth that hasn't come out on its own, or it might be developing in an abnormal direction and is blocked by a neighboring adult (permanent) tooth. Depending on the source of the impaction, your dentist may suggest a simple or surgical extraction to ease pain or keep you from getting an infection.
• DAMAGE TO THE TEETH
  Regrettably, bad luck can happen to us all, and, occasionally, our teeth could incur trauma. While the preferred choice is generally to try to save the tooth, it may not be possible. The trauma might be caused by a car accident or maybe a sports or on-the-job accident, but no matter the reason, anyone in Pasadena, TX really should plan a consultation with a dental professional if they have an oral injury. In some cases, the injury might not be noticeable to a nonprofessional.
• SEVERE DECAY
  In cases where a cavity is left untreated or not treated appropriately, it will likely spread to the pulp inside the tooth. Even though a root canal might potentially be used to save the tooth, it may need to be taken out if the damage is bad enough to compromise the tooth. A simple extraction may keep the decay and disease from getting into your other teeth, the gum tissue, jawbone, and, ultimately, your bloodstream.
• OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
  For some patients, a tooth or teeth may need to be removed to prepare for an orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign or classic braces. These treatments are made to gently push the teeth into their proper positions, which may require removing one or multiple teeth if there is not enough space so the remaining teeth are able to fit. Tooth overcrowding is generally treated with simple extraction.

RECOVERY PERIOD AFTER HAVING A TOOTH REMOVED
When you've had a tooth extraction, it's necessary to understand and strictly adhere to your dentist’s healing instructions. A simple extraction will normally require less recovery time than a surgical extraction; however, it is going to be different for each case. You could be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection, as well as a pain medication. You may choose to follow a soft foods diet for the first few days after the procedure, while your gums are tender and recovering. This is a good opportunity to snack on some ice cream, but you should also make soup, etc., for more nutritious foods. You must avoid ingesting any tobacco products, before and after your treatment, because they may impede your ability to heal. Your dentist might tell you to use an antibiotic mouthwash until you are released to go back to brushing and flossing again.

THE BEST WAY TO A HEALTHIER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE MAY INCLUDE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A dental extraction might be needed for many reasons, including to keep decay from affecting other teeth, to resolve an impaction, or just to provide your remaining teeth enough space. Treating all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Pasadena is part of finally having your sexiest smile. Contact our team in Pasadena, TX to plan a consultation with our skilled dental professionals to determine if a surgical or simple extraction could be the best choice for your new and improved smile.