Tooth extractions are one of the most known and feared of all the dental procedures. These fears are usually based on previous experiences or stories that reflect the old procedures used to extract teeth. But these days, the tooth extraction procedure is usually quick and simple and will improve your oral health markedly. What is a Tooth Extraction? A tooth extraction is a fairly basic procedure. Your dentist will exhaust every possibility before they recommend a tooth extraction procedure. It’s basically a last resort for a tooth that is too damaged to save. When this occurs, extraction is better for your oral health and for your overall health as well. During the procedure, your dentist will completely numb your mouth and remove the tooth from its socket. The procedure itself is usually fairly quick and simple unless there are complications such as the shape or position of the tooth. If this is the case, your dentist will discuss the problems before the procedure so you’re aware of everything that will happen. Why do your Teeth Get Extracted? There are a variety of reasons why you need to have a tooth extracted. Generally speaking, your dentist will only suggest an extraction when the tooth is too damaged to save, or when it’s threatening the health of the rest of your teeth. The most common causes of extraction are as follows: Tooth decay Periodontal disease Trauma or injury Overcrowding, such as when you have too many teeth for your jaw, or the teeth you have are set unevenly and are crowding each other. Impaction, which often occurs when wisdom teeth growth through despite the lack of room. These impacted teeth often become infected and need to be removed before they put other teeth forward. Emergency Tooth Extraction Emergency extractions are fairly rare. Most of the time your dentist will work to save your tooth before suggesting that it be removed. However, in situations like the following you might need an emergency extraction: When you have an infection that is spreading. If you’re involved in some kind of accident and damaged your mouth your dentist may recommend a broken tooth extraction. If you have decay that has suddenly and severely breached the centre of the tooth causing intense pain. Tooth Extraction Care Caring for your mouth after a tooth extraction is vitally important. It will help prevent infection and ensure that your mouth heals well. After an extraction, make sure you take the following actions: Don’t play with the site with your fingers or tongue. Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours. Rinse with warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt after 24 hours has passed. Don’t brush over the site for 72 hours. Make sure you follow all the instructions given to you by the dentist and make a follow up appointment to check on how you’re healing. Tooth Extraction Cost The cost of your tooth extraction will vary depending on the amount of work involved, the condition of your mouth and the gum surrounding the affected tooth, and on the tooth itself. That basically means that the sooner you get your tooth taken care of, the more chance there is that you’ll have a cheap tooth extraction as well as a smoother and easier procedure. So talk to our team today about any problems you have with your teeth and how we can help. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
