Tooth Extractions in Tampa

dentist officeHaving toothaches can be absolutely unbearable. Especially if a patient is suffering from periodontal (which is the structure that supports teeth) diseases (study source).

If the tooth can’t be saved for various reasons then the tooth may be needed to be extracted to prevent further issues and to relieve pain. Tooth extractions can safely remove the tooth that is causing an issue.

The biggest appeal of a tooth extraction is how the pain alleviated almost immediately. If the tooth had severe decay then infection may be present too. Therefore, by extracting the tooth the pain is eliminated almost immediately. 

That being said, if a tooth is extracted then other dental procedures are necessary to take the place of the extracted tooth. It’s not advisable to leave a gap because other teeth will move out of alignment and fill the space. Furthermore, it may be uncomfortable to chew and have aesthetically undesirable effects.

Why would a patient need to have their tooth extracted?

When we were kids we had our teeth fall out. Maybe a parent, a sibling or yourself did it. Whoever did it essentially extracted the tooth. As adults it’s a bit more difficult. 

That being said, tooth extractions are quite common. Even though it is one of the easiest and most common dental procedures, it should only be done as a last resort. If the tooth can not be saved then an extraction must be done.

There are several main reasons why a patient would need a tooth extraction. Below is a brief summary of a few main reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary.

  • Periodontal Disease

    Overtime gums and underlying bones erode. Not taking care of your teeth accelerates the erosion. The gums and bones cannot hold the tooth securely in place because the tooth roots are loose. The cause of gum & bone receding is commonly periodontal disease, aka gum disease. If a patient's bones in the mouth are not dense enough then the opportunity to restore the natural are very slim.

  • Extra Teeth

    As mentioned before, our baby teeth fall out. However, this is not always the case. One of the main causes of having extra teeth is because a patient's baby teeth didn't drop out. This crowds the teeth and pushes the others out of place. A tooth extraction gives the space necessary for the teeth to correctly realign.

  • Tooth Decay

    If a tooth decay is very deep and goes into the pulp of the tooth where the structure of the tooth is unstable, then a root canal cannot be done. Unfortunately this is the most common reason why a tooth needs to be extracted.

  • Before Braces

    When getting braces there needs to be enough space for the tooth to move into its proper place. If the proper amount of distance can’t be obtained then a tooth extraction may be necessary to clear out enough room for proper teeth alignment.

  • Fractured Teeth

    Due to the advancements in modern dentistry, most teeth can be saved in most instances with root canal therapy. However, there are some situation when a tooth is fractured beyond repair. If this is the case then your dentist will extract the tooth and replace it with a prosthetic tooth.

What is the Tooth Extraction Process?

  • Step 1

    Dentist takes x-rays and plans the procedure.

  • Step 2

    After examining the x-ray the dentist decides on the method and preps the tooth accordingly.

  • Step 3

    Local anesthesia is given. Further sedation may be required depending on the patient and tooth being extracted, as well as other factors.

  • Step 4

    The dentist uses a specialized instrument called an elevator. The elevator loosens the ligaments and gums around the tooth which allows the tooth to separate from the gums.

  • Step 5

    Forceps are used to grab the tooth and move it back-and-forth. This helps further to loosen the ligaments and gum tissue that is attached to the tooth.

  • Step 6

    After the extraction the dentist packs the socket with gauze. Pressure must be applied by biting down. In some cases, such as wisdom teeth, stitches may be necessary to close the socket.

Is Tooth Extraction Painful?

Each patient is different. Generally, due to the amount of anesthesia used, there isn’t much pain. The discomfort comes with pressure used and keeping your mouth open.

After the tooth is extracted dentist normally ask you to take over-the-counter medicine to help with pain and reduce the swelling.

Tooth Extraction for Children & Babies

There are some instances when child or baby needs to have teeth removed or extracted. There are common reasons for this. The most usual cases are:

The baby tooth doesn’t fall out, but the permanent adult tooth starts to come out (aka over-retained baby tooth).

  • Need to prepare and manage spacing of the teeth to begin seeing an orthodontist.
  • Baby teeth are too badly damaged and cannot be repaired. This can be caused by an injury or dental disease.
  • Cavities have decayed the child’s tooth and it’s too late to restore and save the tooth.

All dentist’s main objective is to save the tooth if possible. Even though it’s a child’s baby tooth, a dentist will advise to keep the tooth over extracting the baby’s tooth. Be sure to ask your dentist what the options are and what they recommend.

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