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What is Tooth Extraction: Causes, Procedure, Benefits & After-Care Tips

Sep 08, 2022
What is Tooth Extraction? Tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth entirely from its socket. Pulling a tooth is the alternative name for this process, often used by people.

What is Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth entirely from its socket. Pulling a tooth is the alternative name for this process, often used by people.

Tooth extractions become necessary for multiple reasons, including infections or severe damage. In addition, they are relatively common and help eliminate bacteria to improve your overall health.

Causes of Tooth Extraction

Dentists prefer saving natural teeth whenever possible. However, when alternative restorative therapies such as dental fillings or crowns are insufficient for a tooth severely damaged beyond the point of repair, removal of the tooth becomes necessary to prevent complications in the mouth. In addition, our tooth extraction dentist in San Antonio might recommend tooth removal if you have severe tooth decay, gum disease, an impacted tooth, fractured or crowded teeth, or dental injuries.

Procedure of Tooth Extraction

Dentists and oral & maxillofacial surgeons perform tooth extractions in a relatively straightforward process.

Visible teeth are removed from their socket in a simple extraction requiring local anesthesia near the affected tooth or teeth. After the tooth is numb, dentists use elevators to loosen it before extraction with forceps.

If your third molars are creating problems in the mouth and making you prone to dental infections, you might require wisdom tooth extraction near you. Visible wisdom teeth removal is performed as a simple extraction. Unfortunately, if the tooth is impacted and remains below the gum line, you require a surgical extraction with local anesthesia and sedation or intravenous anesthesia.

The dental professional makes incisions in your gums to expose the impacted tooth and removes any bone covering it before removing the tooth with dental instruments or even cuts it Up in pieces for easy removal.

Benefits of Tooth Extraction

Expect to reap the following benefits of tooth extractions if your dental professional recommends tooth extraction:

  • The process doesn’t merely leave you with missing teeth but makes it possible to improve your overall health by eliminating existing infections in your mouth and preventing impending infections that might develop later.
  • A tooth or teeth with diseases can cause multiple problems to your general and overall health, impacting your overall health. For example, if you have loose teeth from gum disease, dental professionals recommend this process to ensure the bacteria from the infection don’t spread through your bloodstream into your body.
  • You benefit from this preventive procedure by eliminating severe problems to your overall health that might require treatments from different medical professionals for conditions like respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
  • If recommended tooth extractions for the reasons described above, you must understand the benefits of the procedure outweigh any risks and accept the proposal of your dentist to remove the tooth at the earliest.
  • Except for wisdom teeth, you can have the other teeth replaced using different options like dentures, bridges, or implants available with dentists as replacements for your extracted teeth. Therefore you don’t have to display a toothless smile or confront the consequences of tooth loss that make you susceptible to various problems.

After-Care Tips Following Tooth Extraction

After extracting teeth using simple or surgical procedures, dentists and oral surgeons provide after-care tips for your recovery following tooth extraction:

  • Immediately after removing a tooth, our San Antonio dentist places gauze over the extraction site requesting that you might down on it to help blood clot formation.
  • If you have undergone a surgical extraction, you must retain the gauze over the extraction site for at least three to four hours. You can change the gauze if it gets saturated with blood.
  • Besides the above, the dentist recommends not to indulge in strenuous activity for at least 24 hours to prevent dislodging of the blood clot and developing a dry socket.
  • They also recommend resting with your head elevated to avoid a rush of blood to your mouth, causing further bleeding.
  • You don’t have to avoid brushing your teeth or flossing them so long as you remain cautious near the extraction site.
  • Mouthwash should not be used immediately following tooth removal because most mouthwash brands contain at least 20 percent alcohol. You must also avoid consuming alcohol or smoking to prevent infections in your mouth and have a soft food diet during your recovery.
  • If you experience pain, swelling, and fever even after 72 hours, you must contact your dentist for help because the symptoms indicate infections in your mouth that need prompt treatment.
  • After removing your tooth, you must wait for the tooth socket to heal before considering replacements for the missing tooth or teeth as required.

Visit a Tooth Extraction Dentist

AB Dental & Oral Surgery performs numerous tooth extractions using minimally invasive techniques to ensure you benefit from the procedure. If you must have a tooth or teeth removed for the reasons mentioned above, kindly do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our practice for getting tooth extraction in San Antonio, TX 78250!