Dentists do everything within their means to maintain the function and health of natural teeth. Compared to today, people in the previous decades used to look after their teeth more keenly because the available tooth replacement methods were extremely costly. Things have changed these days, with dental implants appearing to record higher success rate than some treatments. These include crown lengthening and furcation treatment. Many dentists in Meridian, Idaho still want to retain original teeth, but there are instances where tooth extraction becomes inevitable.
Tooth Extraction Basics
Tooth extraction is a procedure to remove a tooth from its socket or dental alveolus. Before extracting the tooth, the oral surgeon, periodontist or general dentist collects the patient’s dental treatment history, including medications they’re currently taking. The dentist will ask about any allergies or intake of blood thinners.
Apart from giving antibiotics before the extraction, the doctor may also perform an x-ray. One or two days before the extraction day, a patient should avoid smoking to prevent dry socket. On the actual day, local anesthesia is applied to the tooth area for numbing purposes. The procedure is either a simple extraction or surgical extraction, depending on several factors.
Why Go for a Tooth Extraction?
One of the hardest decisions for dental health is whether to do root canal treatment or give in and perform a tooth extraction. A few reasons can make tooth extraction necessary. It is up to the doctor to perform the analysis and deliver the verdict to you.
Crowding is one of the cases that force the dentist to suggest this treatment. The arc of the mouth is sometimes too narrow that an extra tooth cannot fit. Ignoring this problem may lead to teeth misaligning and cause tooth root damage. A fractured tooth may also prompt removal as the only option. In such instances, the fracture cannot be remedied by all treatments including root canals, crowns and fillings. Other reasons for tooth extraction are:
• Tooth decay
• Orthodontic problems
• Misaligned teeth
• Failure of baby teeth to fall out in time
• Need to perform radiation in head or neck for some patients
• Tooth too loose
Alternatives to Tooth Extraction
Partial denture allows you to keep part of the ailing tooth. For most patients, this is the most affordable and easy option. The only drawback is that it lacks the simplicity of root canal. A root canal involves drilling to the tooth root. After cleaning the resulting canal, the dentist adds synthetic material. The benefits of the procedure are minimal medication and less pain, which means it’s possible to return to normal life within a short time. A dental implant is also considered an alternative because it is not as expensive as management of the resulting gap after real extraction.
Do not wait for the next appointment to the dentist if the pain is escalating. Delaying tooth treatment, whether extraction or otherwise, is a dangerous game. Your dentist will explain all the factors and give treatment recommendations. It does not have to be extraction, so do not give up on your teeth yet.
