The Dark Secrets Dentists Don’t Want You to Know About Tooth Extractions!

The Tooth Extraction Process

Dental extractions in Tampa, FL, are irrelevant because a dentist near you said so. Instead, they are procedures deemed necessary for oral health preservation that a damaged tooth would otherwise compromise.

The process entails numbing the mouth with local anesthesia to prevent pain during the treatment. Afterward, the dentist will rock your tooth to loosen it from the jawbone, typical for a simple tooth extraction.

In other cases, you require a surgical extraction in a dental office near you. For such, the dentist will cut the gums to access the bone tissue blocking the tooth. The dentist may break the tooth into small pieces to further ease the extraction process.

The Need for Tooth Extractions

Some factors that necessitate tooth extractions by dentists in Tampa are:

1. Extensive decay or damage beyond repair – can occur when bacteria reach the tooth’s pulp or after a tooth fracture beyond what can be effectively restored.
2. Impacted wisdom teeth – third molars often don’t have enough space to erupt or develop properly. Impacted wisdom teeth cause pain, infection, crowding, and even damage to adjacent teeth. In such cases, extraction is often necessary.
3. Advanced periodontal disease – causes severe damage to the supporting tissues around the teeth. When the disease progresses, the tooth is no longer stable because of a compromised jawbone and gums, posing a risk to neighboring teeth. Any dentist near you will recommend extraction for such a case.
4. Orthodontic treatments – tooth extraction may be necessary to create enough room in the jawbone for proper teeth alignment. Dentists in 33635 will do this as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to alleviate overcrowding.
5. Trauma or injury – significant trauma, such as fractures or displacement, may necessitate extraction if repair and restoration are not possible or if they pose a risk to oral health.

Potential Complications and Risks

After tooth extraction, proper post-operative care is essential to promote healing and minimize complications. If not, you may experience some complications like:

1. Recurring pain after treatment
2. Infection on the extraction wound
3. Inflammation and swelling
4. Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) – although bleeding is normal after a tooth extraction, it should be within control.
5. A dry socket – occurs when dry air in the mouth causes the blood clot on the extraction site to dislodge or dissolve prematurely.
6. Nerve damage – leading to temporary or permanent numbness or tingling in your mouth.

Tips for Recovery and Oral Health After Extraction

If you care for your mouth well after a tooth extraction, you can escape some of the complications of the treatment. Some tips for speedy healing and recovery are:

1. Avoid drinking through straws.
2. Eat soft foods that will not aggravate the wound. Easy-to-chew foods will not be hard, crunchy, or spicy. Prefer blunt, soft foods.
3. Keep a clean mouth to avoid bacterial infections.
4. Take prescribed pain medicine to manage your pain and overcome inflammation.
5. Pay attention to any unusual or severe symptoms that may indicate a complication.
6. Attend all follow-up appointments scheduled by your dentist.
7. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption – they slow healing and can heighten the risk of infection.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

• Tooth extractions are extremely painful

While it may have been true in the past, modern dentistry allows for pain-free tooth extractions with minimal discomfort thanks to local anesthesia and sedation dentistry.

• Tooth extractions are always necessary for wisdom teeth.

Although many wisdom teeth need to be extracted because they are problematic, it does not apply to every patient. Some people have ample space in their mouths to house extra molars. Dentists only remove problematic wisdom teeth that threaten the health of adjacent teeth and surrounding tissues.

• You will have a gap in your smile after tooth extraction.

Ideally, an extraction may create a temporary gap in your jaw. However, you do not have to keep going without teeth since various treatment options could replace your teeth.

Tooth Replacement Options

After extraction, you do not need to spend the rest of your life without teeth. Instead, consider tooth replacement options available near you, including the following:

1. Dental implants – are your unique restorations that replace tooth roots, offering a permanent solution to tooth loss. Usually, dental implants are ideal for replacing a single tooth at a time. However, liaise with your dentist regarding the all-on-4 technique for multiple tooth replacement with implants.
2. Dental bridges – a bridgework consists of artificial teeth sandwiched between two dental crowns. It is ideal for replacing one to three missing teeth in a row.
3. Dentures – are oral devices that can replace multiple missing teeth at once. Dentures can replace a full arc of missing teeth or even your entire mouth.