The Truth About How Getting A Tooth Extracted Can Boost Overall Dental Health

OFTEN, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS STEP ONE OF SHOWING OFF YOUR BEST SMILE
Long ago, when you were very young, pulling a tooth was a sure sign of a little money from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, when you had all your permanent teeth, it became a lot less fun. There are several reasons that you might need a tooth extraction to help your oral health, such as tooth impaction, to avoid overcrowding, or an infected tooth. While a dental extraction might not seem like fun, it's no longer as scary or uncomfortable as it used to be. Using modern methods and many sedation options, MINT dentistry in White Rock makes tooth extractions a little easier in the event that you require one. Our dental team in Dallas, TX will carefully assess the affected tooth or teeth before suggesting an extraction. When a tooth needs to be pulled, our staff strives to make sure you are relaxed from start to finish. Read on to learn about both methods of dental extractions and the top reasons why a tooth or teeth might have to be removed.

KINDS OF TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are several reasons that a tooth may need to be extracted. First, the team at MINT dentistry in White Rock will figure out the cause of your oral issue. After that, they can decide which kind of tooth removal best fits your case. The majority of dental extractions fall into two basic categories:

• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  A surgical extraction will be performed if the tooth hasn't fully erupted through the gums. Therefore, an incision is needed to get to the tooth below the gums. If necessary, the tooth may be cut into many pieces for a quicker extraction. A surgical extraction is typically chosen to pull the wisdom teeth or a tooth that hasn't erupted.
• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  Your dental care provider will conduct a simple extraction if the crown of the tooth has erupted above the gums. The tooth is often loosened with a dental tool called an elevator, and then the tooth and root are taken out of the jawbone and gums. This method is generally chosen if a tooth is seriously infected, very decayed, or not able to be saved, or to address overcrowding.

STANDARD REASONS YOU COULD NEED TO HAVE A TOOTH REMOVED
Numerous types of tooth problems may result in having to get a tooth extraction. Among the most common reasons patients in Dallas, TX would have a dental extraction is to head off impaction. These are several of the additional routine reasons you may need a tooth extraction:

• OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
  Sometimes, a tooth or teeth might have to be removed before an orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign or metal braces. These treatments are meant to gently push the teeth into their correct alignment, which might necessitate pulling one or more teeth if there is not enough space so the others can fit. Overcrowded teeth are usually treated with simple extraction.
• SEVERE DECAY
  If a dental cavity is left untreated or not addressed appropriately, it will often eat into the pulp inside the tooth. Although a root canal might potentially be used to save the tooth, it may have to be taken out if the cavity is severe enough to weaken the tooth's structure. A simple extraction may keep the decay and infection from moving into other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, finally, your blood.
• TOOTH IMPACTION
  When you have an impacted tooth, it means there is some sort of blockage preventing the tooth from pushing through the gumline. An impacted tooth may be obstructed by a baby tooth that still hasn't fallen out naturally, or it may be growing in an abnormal direction and is obstructed by another permanent tooth. Depending upon the source of the impaction, your dentist might recommend a surgical or simple extraction to lessen discomfort or keep you from getting an infection.
• WISDOM TEETH
  Your back molars, often known as the wisdom teeth, will, in all likelihood, need to be pulled. The modern human jaw normally can't fit these particular teeth, so if they begin to push through the gums (in most people, from the late teens to early twenties), your dentist might recommend a surgical extraction. It's crucial to have your wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible, before your teeth get impacted or infected. But some men and women never have to get their third molars extracted. Very rarely, some fortunate patients don't get all four wisdom teeth or any at all!
• TRAUMA TO THE TOOTH
  Unfortunately, bad luck can happen to anyone, and, occasionally, our teeth could be affected. Although the ideal option is usually to attempt to preserve the tooth, it may not be possible. The injury could be caused by a car collision or even a sports or workplace accident, but no matter the reason, patients in Dallas, TX really should arrange a consultation with a dental practitioner if they have a mouth injury. In some cases, the harm isn't obvious to a nonprofessional.

RECOVERY PERIOD FOR A TOOTH EXTRACTION
In the days after a tooth extraction, it's crucial to understand and carefully adhere to your dentist’s recovery directions. A simple extraction will usually require less healing time than a surgical extraction; however, it will be different for every specific case. You may be given a prescription for antibiotics to prevent infection, and maybe a pain medication. You may want to follow a soft foods diet for the initial couple of days following the extraction, while the area is sore and recovering. This is a good opportunity to snack on some ice cream, but you ought to also make soup, etc., for more nutritious foods. You ought to avoid ingesting all tobacco products, both before and after your extraction, since they can impair your body's ability to heal correctly. Your dentist may recommend using an antibiotic oral rinse until you given the okay to go back to brushing and flossing again.

THE ANSWER TO A BETTER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE MAY INCLUDE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction may be performed for a lot of reasons, such as to prevent decay from spreading, to resolve an impaction, or just to give your remaining teeth more space. Taking care of all of these problems at MINT dentistry in White Rock is important in finally having your healthiest, most alluring smile. Contact us in Dallas, TX to plan a consultation with our experienced staff to talk about if a simple or surgical extraction could be the best answer for a sexier, healthier smile.