Has pain in your gums and jaw been prevalent and has been making you cranky and uncomfortable? You finally schedule a visit at a dentist in Lethbridge, and unfortunately, they recommend extracting your teeth.
Being recommended for tooth extraction can come as a shock to most patients. You might be eager to keep your teeth safe and wish to avoid extracting them. It is essential to know that dentists prefer it that way too. An experienced and skilled dentist will never extract your tooth until it is completely necessary. It is considered a last resort when no reconstructive or restorative treatments can work. So when you are recommended for an extraction, you ought to trust your dentist.
Why would I need a tooth extraction?
You might require tooth extraction for a variety of reasons. Some of them could be:
- Severe decay: A filling or even a root canal may not be able to rescue a tooth with severe decay, which has reached an aggressive form and severely damaged the tooth’s structure. In this instance, extraction may be essential for avoiding additional infection and deterioration.
- Gum disease: Severe gum disease can make a tooth unstable and loose. In some circumstances, tooth extraction could be required to stop the infection from spreading to nearby teeth and the body as a whole.
- Crowding: In order to accommodate corrective surgery, such as braces or Invisalign, tooth extraction may be essential if your mouth is too crowded to accommodate all of your teeth.
- Impacted wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can be stuck in the jawbone and unable to emerge properly. Impacted wisdom teeth may need to be removed as they may hurt, infect, and cause injury to nearby teeth.
- Trauma: It may not be feasible to save a tooth that has been severely fractured or destroyed due to trauma, such as from a sports injury or automobile accident, and extraction may be required.
What is involved in a tooth extraction procedure?
An anesthetic is often injected to numb the region around the damaged tooth before beginning the tooth extraction surgery. Sedation or general anesthesia may be used in some situations to put you to sleep or help you relax during the surgery.
The tooth will be separated from the surrounding bone and gum tissue using specialized tools after the area has been rendered fully numb by the dentist or oral surgeon. The tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces for simpler removal based on its dimensions and form.
In order to reduce bleeding and promote clot formation after the tooth has been removed, the dentist or oral surgeon will add pressure to the extraction point. You might be encouraged to bite down on a gauze pad that has been placed over the extraction site in order to promote the formation of a blood clot.
A few dissolvable stitches might be applied by the dentist to help settle the extraction site and encourage healing. You’ll receive post-operative guidelines on how to take care of the extraction site, along with advice on how to manage your pain, eat well, and practice good oral hygiene.
The majority of tooth extractions in Lethbridge are fairly straightforward and can be finished in a single visit. More complicated situations, however, might require numerous visits or a referral to an oral surgeon. Most patients can anticipate complete recovery from a tooth extraction in just a few days to a week with the right care and follow-up.
Tooth extraction near you in Lethbridge
If you or someone you know has been suffering from teeth and gums pain, swelling and inability to talk or eat properly, make an appointment at Absolute Dental in Lethbridge to get tooth extractions near you.