When a tooth is damaged or in the wrong place, an extraction may be the only course of action that will resolve the problem. A tooth extraction usually doesn’t require cutting or general anesthesia, so you can continue most normal activities soon after the process is complete with only a few restrictions on what you can eat for a while.
Reasons For Tooth Extraction
When nothing else will resolve a dental issue, you may feel much better after having a tooth extracted, even though it should be viewed as the last resort in most cases. You may want to consider having a tooth removed if it is:
- Heavily decayed and the dentist finds that root canal therapy won’t help
- Malformed or fractured
- Loose because of gum disease impacting connective tissue and bone
- Loose because of facial trauma
- In the wrong place and in the way of orthodontic treatment
- A baby tooth that’s in the way of an adult tooth.
How Is a Tooth Extraction Done?
A tooth extraction usually starts with an x-ray to understand exactly what’s happening. Once your San Diego dentist has decided that an extraction is the best course of action and you agree, they will use a local anesthetic to numb it. You will feel pressure but not pain. A device called an elevator will be used to gently nudge the tooth out, then forceps will remove it.
If a tooth does not respond to this method of removal, your SDDA dentist can use a special tool to break the tooth and then gently remove it in pieces, making sure none are left behind. Once the tooth is removed, the dentist will usually ask you to bite down on a piece of gauze over the extraction site to stop any bleeding. In some cases, stitches may be needed to close the socket.
You need to be in good health during an extraction, if possible, so you must notify the dental office if you feel unwell in the days leading to your appointment so the extraction can be changed to another day.
A caring San Diego Dentists Association member can handle your extractions and meet your other dental needs, so why not reach out now?