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

SOMETIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS STEP ONE OF OBTAINING YOUR NEW AND IMPROVED SMILE
In the days when you were still a child, losing a tooth was a sure sign of a dollar or two from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, once you got all your adult teeth, losing a tooth became much less enjoyable. There are numerous reasons why you might have a tooth extraction to improve your oral health, such as a tooth that hasn't erupted, to stop overcrowding, or an injured tooth. Even though a tooth extraction might not seem like fun, it's not as frightening or painful as it once was. Using modern techniques and several sedation options, MINT dentistry in Conroe makes dental extractions a little easier in case you need one. Our dental staff in Conroe, TX will carefully evaluate the affected area before suggesting an extraction. If a tooth has to be removed, our team strives to ensure you stay comfortable from start to finish. Read on to find out about the two main types of dental extractions and the top reasons a tooth or teeth may have to be pulled.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
There are a number of reasons why a tooth may have to be pulled. To begin, the team at MINT dentistry in Conroe will determine the reason for your oral symptoms. Then, they can decide what kind of tooth extraction best matches your case. Most dental extractions fit into two basic categories:

• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  A surgical extraction is done if the crown hasn't fully grown through the gumline. This means that an incision is necessary to extract the tooth below the tissue. If necessary, the tooth could be cut into pieces for a quicker extraction. A surgical extraction is typically utilized to remove the back molars or a nonerupted tooth.
• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  A dental practitioner will conduct a simple extraction if your crown of the tooth has erupted above the gumline. The tooth is often loosened using a dental tool called an elevator before the crown and root are taken out of the jawbone and gums. This technique is mainly chosen if a tooth is seriously infected, extremely decayed, or not able to be saved, or to help with overcrowding.

STANDARD REASONS YOU MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO GET A TOOTH REMOVED
Multiple different dental issues can result in having to get a tooth extraction. One of the leading reasons patients in Conroe, TX will have a tooth extraction is to avoid impaction. Here are a few of the additional common reasons you might need a dental extraction:

• INJURY TO THE TOOTH
  Unfortunately, bad luck can happen to anyone, and, sometimes, our teeth could be damaged. While the best solution is generally to make all efforts to save the tooth, it may not be possible. The trauma could be due to a car accident or even an athletic or workplace incident, but no matter the reason, anyone in Conroe, TX really need to arrange a consultation with a dental professional if they've experienced a mouth injury. In some cases, the injury might not be visible to a nonprofessional.
• MOLARS
  Your back molars, frequently called the wisdom teeth, will most likely have to be pulled. The human jaw normally isn't large enough to fit these particular teeth, so as they begin to grow out of the gum tissue (typically during ages 15 – 22), your dentist could recommend a surgical extraction. It's key to have the third molars taken out as soon as you can, before your teeth become infected or impacted. But some individuals never need to get their back molars removed. It's uncommon, but some fortunate patients don't get all four molars or even any at all!
• SEVERE DECAY
  When a cavity is ignored or not addressed in time, it will likely eat into the pulp within the tooth. Although a root canal might potentially be conducted to preserve the tooth, it may need to be extracted if the pitting is severe enough to weaken the tooth's structure. A simple extraction may stop the decay and disease from transferring to other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, ultimately, your bloodstream.
• TEETH THAT HAVEN'T ERUPTED
  When patients have tooth impaction, it signals that there is some type of problem preventing the tooth from growing out of the gumline. An impacted tooth might be impeded by a primary tooth that hasn't fallen out naturally, or it could be developing in the wrong direction and is obstructed by another permanent tooth. Depending on the source of the impaction, the dentist may suggest a simple or surgical extraction to reduce pain or keep you from getting an infection.
• OVERCROWDING OF THE TEETH
  Sometimes, one or more teeth may have to be extracted before an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or classic braces. These treatments are intended to gently push the teeth into their correct alignment, which might mean removing one or multiple teeth if there is not enough room so the others can fit. Overcrowded teeth are generally resolved with simple extraction.

HEALING TIME AFTER GETTING A TOOTH PULLED
Following a tooth extraction, it's crucial to pay attention to and carefully adhere to your dentist’s healing directions. A simple extraction will typically require less recovery time compared to a surgical extraction, but it is going to depend on every case. You may be written a prescription for antibiotics to prevent infection, as well as a pain reliever. You might opt to stick to a liquid diet for the immediate couple of days following the procedure, when your gums are sore and recovering. This is a great opportunity to eat a little ice cream, but you should also use protein shakes, etc., to get more nutritious foods. You should stop using any tobacco products, leading up to and after your extraction, as they may impede your 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 ROAD TO A HEALTHIER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE MIGHT INVOLVE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction might be needed for a lot of reasons, such as to prevent decay from traveling throughout the body, to resolve an impaction, or simply to give your remaining teeth additional space. Dealing with all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Conroe is important in obtaining your best smile. Call our team in Conroe, TX to schedule a consultation with our knowledgeable staff to find out whether a surgical or simple extraction could be the most effective treatment for a healthier, more attractive smile.