There are various reasons a tooth extraction may become necessary. Your tooth may be infected or damaged, or possibly you need your wisdom teeth removed before they cause further problems. How will you know if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. Nicholas F. Gardner in Gouverneur, NY explains.
A Last Resort
In most cases, tooth extraction is viewed as a last resort by dentists. Dr. Gardner strives to provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems. He wants to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. Once these conservative methods have failed or if he does not believe that they’re feasible in your case, that’s when a tooth extraction will be recommended.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may be removed. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been damaged in an accident, that tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also sometimes removed when your mouth is overcrowded. This can cause issues with dental hygiene and increase your risk of tooth decay.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion. This condition occurs when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can be the root of many oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. An even bite that meets where it’s supposed to help to even out the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This lessens the chance of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth will usually begin to emerge in one’s late teens or early twenties. It’s more likely than not to have your wisdom teeth removed. Very few people keep their wisdom teeth throughout their lifetime without any issues. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and can be more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also get impacted in your jaw. This means that it’s at an odd angle and is stuck mostly under the gums, causing problems with your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time through a surgical procedure. You’ll be sedated and the wisdom teeth will be removed before they cause too many problems.
The Extraction Process
For a basic tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being removed. If you suffer from a phobia around dental work, we offer sedation dentistry options to make sure you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
When you’re numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be slowly severed. Then, the tooth is gently rocked back and forth within the socket to loosen it for removal. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the cavity and also helps to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Gouverneur, NY
Have a tooth that may need to be removed? Call us at (315) 203-1772 today or schedule an appointment online.