Tooth Extractions
The term tooth extractions is pretty self-explanatory. This is basically a procedure in which a tooth is medically removed from its socket in the bone. Tooth extractions are done for a number of reasons. Wisdom tooth extraction may be done if your wisdom teeth don’t come out correctly.
In some cases, tooth extractions are done to prevent the spread of infection. And, in some other cases, tooth extraction may also be done for cosmetic reasons. In this article, we discuss the reasons for tooth extraction, types of tooth extractions, and other details about emergency tooth extraction.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
The reasons for tooth extraction are widespread and diverse. The following are some of the most common reasons for tooth extraction.
Bacterial Infection
If your tooth is decayed or infected, the dentist will try their best to treat the infection without removing the tooth. If the decay is surface level, the dentist may fill in the cavities with dental fillings. If the infection has spread to the pulp chamber, the dentist may use a root canal treatment to remove the pulp and nerves. However, in some cases, if you wait too long to seek treatment, the tooth will have to be extracted to prevent the bacterial infection from spreading to other teeth. To prevent this, you should see your dentist as soon as you experience the signs of dental decay like toothaches, persistent bad breath, etc.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth or third molars often have to be removed before they can fully emerge to prevent certain dental issues. Your wisdom teeth generally erupt during your 20s. However, they often don’t come out properly — they may get stuck in the jaws, get decayed, be impacted, or generally lead to overcrowding in the mouth. This can lead to gum infection, pain, swelling, and various other issues. That’s why wisdom tooth extraction is done.
Other Reasons
Tooth extraction may also be done for the following reasons:
- Tooth extraction to fix an overbite or to prevent overcrowding.
- Removing baby teeth in order to allow permanent teeth to come out.
- Tooth extraction while getting braces to make room for some of your teeth.
- If you’ve had an organ transplant, you’ll be at a higher risk of infection because of the consumption of certain medications. In this case, tooth extraction may be necessary.
What are the Types of Tooth Extractions?
Depending on the type of tooth you have and whether it’s impacted, there are two types of tooth extractions. The following is a brief overview of the tooth extraction procedures.
Simple Extraction
Simple extraction is an extremely simple procedure that only comprises the following steps:
- The dentist applies a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth so the procedure is painless.
- The dentist uses an elevator device to loosen the tooth.
- Forceps are used to remove the loosened tooth.
Surgical Extraction
Surgical extraction may be necessary if you’re suffering from an impacted tooth. The following are the steps in the procedure:
- Local anesthesia and intravenous anesthesia are used to calm you down.
- General anesthesia is used to render you unconscious if you have any other medical issues.
- The dentist will create a small incision on your gums and then remove the bone structure around your tooth.
- Once the bone has been removed, loosening the tooth, the dentist will extract the complete tooth.
- The incision will be sutured together and closed.
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Cost of Affordable Tooth Extraction
The cost of affordable tooth extraction depends entirely on the location of the impacted tooth. A simple extraction procedure may cost between $75 and $200, depending on the location and use of anesthesia. Surgical extraction of teeth may cost between $800 and $4,000, depending on the location of the tooth and the location of the treatment.
What is one of the Best Way to Pull a Tooth without Pain?
One of the best way to remove a tooth without pain is to go to a dentist for professional tooth extraction. They’ll assess your condition and then apply local anesthesia and general anesthesia so you either don’t feel anything or go to sleep. As such, when the dentist pulls your tooth, you won’t feel anything.
If you want to remove a child’s tooth without pain, you can follow these tips:
- Ask your child to wiggle the loose tooth as much as possible using their fingers or gums. The tooth may just come out on its own.
- Make your child bite into an ice pop to numb the area or bite into an apple to hopefully dislodge the tooth.
- If that doesn’t work — and if the tooth is hanging on by a thread — you can use gauze to hold on to the tooth and pull.
When Can Tooth Extraction be a Bad Idea?
Tooth extraction may be a bad idea in the following situations:
- If the tooth can still be saved with dental fillings or root canal treatment. Some inexperienced dentists often recommend tooth extraction just because a root canal procedure will be more complicated. You should only go to reputable dentists and seek a second opinion.
- You shouldn’t extract the tooth without treating the infection first. It’s important to remove the infected parts first.
- If you have enough space in your jaws for the sprouting molars, then you don’t need to do wisdom tooth extraction.
What Happens after Tooth Removal?
After the tooth removal, the dentist will give you some pointers on what you should or shouldn’t do.
- Your dentist may recommend some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to manage the pain after the anesthesia wears off.
- You’ll have to place a piece of gauze in your mouth for about 30 minutes after the procedure to allow the clot in your gums to heal. You should also expect some sporadic bleeding for about 24 hours after the treatment because incisions on gums take time to heal completely.
- Place ice packs on your cheeks to reduce the swelling. Hold them to your face for periods of 20 minutes. If your jaw remains stiff, you can also use warm compresses.
- For a few days, you should only eat soft and cool foods and beverages.
- Rinse your mouth with some salt water to keep your mouth clean.
- Don’t smoke for at least 72 hours after the tooth extraction procedure.
- Don’t spit because that may pull the blood clot out and renew bleeding.
Schedule Tooth Extraction Houston, TX
At URBN Dental Uptown , we prioritize saving your teeth over all else. We consider all of the least minimal alternatives such as dental fillings and root canal treatment in order to save your teeth. We only recommend tooth extraction Houston, TX if there are no other options and that’s the only way to prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth. If you have any of the signs of dental decay, then please schedule an appointment immediately so we can do our best to save your teeth.