Tooth Extractions Weymouth MA
Although teeth play a critical role in your oral health and general well-being, a tooth extraction is sometimes necessary. For example, if you have a severely impacted or decayed tooth, your dentist may recommend it for extraction. Failing to remove such a tooth can lead to complications like pain, swelling, sensitivity and bleeding. It can also damage surrounding, healthy teeth.
Situations in which you may require a tooth extraction include:
- Severe tooth decay or infection
- Impacted tooth
- Trauma or injury
- To provide space for orthodontic treatments
- Severe periodontal disease
The Extraction Process
Tooth extractions come in two types: simple and surgical.
Simple Extraction
If your tooth is visible above the gums, your dentist would use a simple extraction, which is a fairly uncomplicated procedure performed with a local anesthetic. After your tooth is numb, your dentist would loosen it from its socket. After it has been loosened sufficiently, they would use forceps to grasp it and complete the extraction process.
Surgical Extraction
Surgical tooth extractions are considerably more complex than simple extractions and may involve the removal of bone, gum tissue, or both.
Surgical extractions are required when there is not enough tooth structure visible above the surface of the gums. This can occur when a tooth has fractured at the gum line, or not yet erupted above the gums.
A surgical extraction involves the placement of an incision into the soft tissues surrounding the tooth, allowing it to be accessed and extracted.
Sectioning a Tooth
In some cases, “sectioning” a tooth is required for it to be extracted. This means that your dentist would break up the tooth into several sections, removing them one by one.
After Tooth Extraction
If you undergo a tooth extraction, it is normal to have some pain when your anesthesia has worn off. Some residual bleeding can also be expected for up to 24 hours after an extraction.
Within 24 hours after your tooth extraction, a blood clot should have formed in the tooth socket. You must take great care to avoid disturbing this blood clot so that you heal properly and don’t experience any complications.
Within two weeks, the surface wound should be virtually closed. New gum tissue and bone will be growing into the space left by the missing tooth root.
Over time, having a missing tooth can lead to surrounding teeth shifting into the empty space, potentially affecting your bite. Your dentist will normally recommend that you replace an extracted tooth with a dental implant, dental bridge or denture.
The Bottom Line
Your dentist will attempt to do everything that they can to save a natural tooth. In some cases, this is not possible. Tooth extractions are one of the most commonly performed dental procedures and are considered to be quite safe and effective.