There are times when a tooth is broken or decayed past the point of a dentist's ability to repair it. In other cases, like when third molars (or "wisdom teeth") cause overcrowding, a tooth's mere presence poses a threat to the teeth around it and an individual's overall oral health. It's for these reasons that tooth extractions are a necessity in dental care.
By extracting damaged or otherwise harmful teeth, a dentist both relieves a patient's pain in the immediate term and eliminates the long-term risk of damage spreading to surrounding parts of the mouth and other parts of the body.
Today, we're discussing what tooth extractions are and some of the most common reasons that they're required.
What's a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction is a moderately invasive procedure in which a dentist removes a broken, decayed, or otherwise potentially harmful tooth from a patient's mouth. These procedures are typically performed in a dentist's office by a dental surgeon.
In preparation for an extraction, the dentist applies a local anesthetic, either topically or via intraoral injection, to the area around the tooth to be extracted. Once the area is properly numbed, the dentist drills a hole into the tooth, which is then gradually widened until the entirety of the tooth's root can be removed from its socket.
After an extraction, there are steps a patient must take to ensure proper healing. These include not biting down hard for at least 24 hours, temporarily avoiding hard or potentially jagged foods (carrots, apples, chips), chewing with a different part of the mouth, and regularly rinsing with warm salt water to prevent bacterial growth.
When Are Tooth Extractions Necessary?
The need for a tooth extraction may arise due to a variety of reasons. The most common among these include:
- Impacted third molars (or wisdom teeth)
- Severe tooth decay
- Untreated infection like a dental abscess (collection of pus around the base of a tooth)
- Advanced gum disease
- To make room for orthodontic treatment or dentures
- A broken tooth resulting from trauma or impact
Dental Extractions in Dedham, MA
If you're in the Dedham area and would like to learn more about the dental extraction process, contact dentist Dr. Taejoon Park and the Dental Park team to schedule a consultation.