The Facts About Why Having A Tooth Pulled Can Improve Overall Dental Health

MANY TIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS A VITAL STEP IN SHOWING OFF YOUR BEST SMILE
Years ago, when you were still a child, losing a tooth meant a visit from the tooth fairy. However, once you had all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became much less enjoyable. There are numerous reasons why you may require a dental extraction to help your dental health, like a tooth that hasn't erupted, to avoid overcrowding, or an infected tooth. Even though a dental extraction may not seem like fun, it's not as frightening or uncomfortable as it once was. Using modern methods and many sedation options, MINT dentistry in Cypress makes tooth extractions a bit easier if you require one. Our dental team in Cypress, TX will thoroughly evaluate the area prior to recommending an extraction. If a tooth needs to be pulled, our staff works hard to make sure you stay relaxed from start to finish. Read on to explore both main methods of tooth extractions and common reasons why a tooth might have to be pulled.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
There are several reasons why a tooth might need to get extracted. To begin, your team at MINT dentistry in Cypress will diagnose the reason for your dental symptoms. Then, they can determine what kind of tooth extraction best suits your needs. The majority of tooth extractions fit into two basic categories:

• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  An extraction surgery is conducted when the crown hasn't totally broken through the gumline. This means that an incision is needed to reach the tooth below the tissue. If needed, the tooth might be divided into many pieces for a quicker extraction. A surgical extraction is generally chosen to take out the back molars or a tooth that hasn't erupted.
• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  A dentist will do a simple extraction if your crown of the tooth has erupted over the gums. It may be loosened by a tool known as an elevator before the crown and root are taken out of the jawbone and gums. A simple extraction is mainly selected if a tooth is seriously infected, extremely decayed, or not able to be saved, or to address overcrowded teeth.

STANDARD REASONS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GET A TOOTH REMOVED
Many different dental issues may lead to having to get a tooth extraction. Among the top reasons patients in Cypress, TX would require a dental extraction is to avoid tooth eruption failure. Here are several of the additional common reasons you might require a dental extraction:

• SEVERE CAVITIES
  If a cavity is ignored or not treated promptly, it will likely spread to the pulp within the tooth. Even though a root canal might potentially be done to save the tooth, it may have to be extracted if the decay is extreme enough to undermine the tooth's structure. A simple extraction may stop the decay and infection from moving into other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, ultimately, your blood.
• DAMAGE TO THE TEETH
  Sadly, mishaps can happen to anyone, and, occasionally, our teeth could be damaged. While the ideal choice is generally to attempt to preserve the tooth, it may not be possible. The trauma may be due to a car crash or even a sports or on-the-job incident, but no matter the reason, patients in Cypress, TX really should arrange an appointment with a dentist if they've experienced an oral injury. In some cases, the damage isn't noticeable right away.
• WISDOM TEETH
  Many patients' third molars, frequently called the wisdom teeth, will probably need to be removed. The human jaw normally isn't large enough to fit these additional teeth, so if they start to grow out of the gums (in most people, from ages 15 – 22), your dentist could recommend a surgical extraction. It's crucial to have the wisdom teeth taken out as early as you can, so they don't get impacted or infected. But a small number of individuals don't have to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. Very rarely, some lucky individuals don't develop all four molars or any at all!
• OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
  For some patients, one or more teeth may need to be removed in order to begin an orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign or metal braces. An orthodontic treatment is done to gently push the teeth into their proper positions, which could require pulling one or more teeth if there is overcrowding so the others can fit. Overcrowded teeth are generally treated with simple extraction.
• IMPACTED TOOTH
  When you have tooth impaction, it means there is some type of obstruction preventing the tooth from breaking out of the gumline. An impacted tooth may be impeded by a baby tooth that hasn't fallen out naturally, or it may be moving in an abnormal direction and is obstructed by another adult (permanent) tooth. Based upon the source of the impaction, your dentist can perform a simple or surgical extraction to stop discomfort or keep you from getting an infection.

HEALING TIME FOR A TOOTH EXTRACTION
Following a tooth extraction, it's crucial to understand and strictly follow your dentist’s healing directions. A simple extraction will usually have less healing time than a surgical extraction; however, it is going to be different for every unique case. You might be prescribed antibiotics to avoid infection, and maybe a pain reliever. You may opt to go on a liquid diet for the immediate couple of days after the extraction, when the area is sore and healing. This is a good chance to eat a little ice cream, but you should also use smoothies, etc., to get more vitamin-rich meals. You must stop using any tobacco products, both leading up to and following your procedure, because they may impair your body's ability to heal. Your dentist may recommend using an antibiotic oral rinse until you are released to begin flossing and brushing again.

THE PATH TO A HEALTHIER, MORE ALLURING SMILE MIGHT INCLUDE A TOOTH EXTRACTION
A dental extraction may be required for many reasons, including to keep decay from affecting other teeth, to treat an impaction, or just to allow your other teeth more space. Taking care of all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Cypress is key to finally having your healthiest, most alluring smile. Call us in Cypress, TX to arrange a consultation with our experienced staff to learn if a surgical or simple extraction could be the most effective answer for your oral health.