Tooth Extractions
While nobody looks forward to the prospect of having one or more of their teeth pulled, it nonetheless becomes a necessity at some point. To ease your anxiety, consider the professionals at Boynton Laser Dental Group. They understand your trepidation and will work to ensure the process goes as smoothly as can be expected. There are many reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary, from making room for orthodontic treatment to ridding your mouth of potential diseases, but your dentist will help explain the entire process to you.
Rationale Behind Tooth Extractions
As mentioned, there are actually numerous reasons why any given person might need to have one or more of their teeth extracted. Some people, no matter how well they care for their oral health, end up with teeth that have become severely decayed. Some teeth become broken due to a traumatic mouth injury and cannot be repaired. In such an event, an extraction is really the only prudent course of action to take. Other reasons range from teeth that have been poorly positioned. This includes impacted teeth, making their removal necessary in order to alleviate pain and make room for the healthy growth of the remaining teeth. A final important reason that teeth extractions are recommended is in the event of periodontal disease in an advanced state.
Since periodontal disease affects the gums, many might wonder why it forces some individuals to have their teeth extracted. The simple fact of the matter is that such disease often destroys the support structure in the mouth that is necessary to maintain natural and healthy teeth. Each type of periodontal disease is unique and requires a slightly different treatment approach. Your professional dentist will work with you to determine what approach is most beneficial in your situation, and will help alleviate your concerns should a tooth extraction become necessary.
The Process Behind Tooth Extraction
Instead of just showing up for the big day, it is helpful to first understand the process involved with a tooth extraction. You will be happy to know right off the bat that you should not feel a thing during the procedure itself. This is because your dentist will begin my numbing the entire area around the tooth that is going to be pulled. In addition, the numbing process will affect the jawbone and gums that are in the immediately region. This will all be administered via safe anesthetic, the effects of which will not wear off until after the procedure is completed.
You will most likely be awake during the entire tooth extraction, so do keep in mind that you will feel a great deal of pressure. This is due to the fact that you dentist must rock the tooth back and forth in a firm manner until the socket is sufficiently wide enough to allow for removal. There will be no pain, however, associated with this pressure thanks to the effect that the anesthetic provides you. The nerves are sufficiently numbed to an extent that you feel no pain, but the pressure will be felt to some degree. It is important to remember that you should let your dentist know right away if you feel any pain at all during the tooth extraction. In such an event, the dentist would immediately stop and reapply the anesthetic.
When Sectioning Is Required
There are some occasions when it might be necessary to section your teeth. The procedure accompanying this is rather common and is done when a particular tooth is so securely ingrained in its socket that the dentist is not able to open it up enough to allow for removal. If this is the case, do not despair as your dentist will safely cut the tooth into sections and then remove it one part at a time. Again, you will not feel any pain throughout the entire procedure.
The Aftermath
There will almost certainly be some bleeding after the procedure is complete, so it is important that blood clots form in order to stunt this process. To facilitate this, bite done on some gauze for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes after the extraction. If you simply cannot stop the bleeding after that length of time has elapsed, repeat again with a clean gauze pad.
Once a blood clot does form, be careful not to do anything to dislodge. This means that you want to avoid rinsing out your mouth with vigor, and you want to stay away from straws, smoking, or alcohol for a few days. In addition, avoid brushing your teeth anywhere near the place where the teeth have been extracted for a minimum of 72 hours. Following these simply guidelines will help further along the healing process.
If you feel that you need a tooth extraction, contact the professional team at Boynton Laser Dental for assistance.