Does Teeth Extraction Hurt?
Removing a tooth is a big deal. It can be scary and painful, and it can leave you feeling like your mouth looks different. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to mitigate those downsides: from anesthesia to local numbing medication to post-extraction pain relief. You’ll want to take care of yourself after an extraction so that you can recover quickly and get back on track with life.
Teeth are a part of our body that we cannot completely get rid of. But yet, we can choose to remove some of them for good dental health and eventually improve our oral look. In this article, we will discuss how dentists remove teeth and what you need to know about it.
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Why Do Dentists Remove Teeth?
Dentists remove teeth for a variety of reasons, some of which include:
Structural Damage
Structural damage is when a tooth has been knocked out of its place, or has been knocked so far back into your jaw that it is no longer visible from the outside. The most common causes of structural damage are athletic injuries and trauma, but the problem can also occur due to gum disease or an accident. If a tooth becomes structurally damaged, you may experience symptoms such as pain and swelling in your mouth.
If doctors choose not to remove the damaged tooth immediately which they often do, they will use appliances such as crowns or partial dentures to protect it while keeping it stable until they can perform surgery later on. The risks of leaving an injured tooth untreated include infection and discoloration of surrounding healthy teeth due to pressure on them from surrounding tissue.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the most common reason for teeth to be removed. It’s caused by bacteria that feed on sugar, and it can be prevented by brushing your teeth regularly and flossing daily. If you’ve got a cavity, your dentist will likely fill it with a filling which is made of composite resin or silver amalgam.
Infection
According to the American Dental Association, you should visit your dentist if you have severe gum pain and swelling. If the swelling is accompanied by fever or chills, this could be an indication of sepsis or an abscessed tooth. If you suspect that your gums are infected and need treatment, it’s important to call our office immediately so we can schedule you in for an emergency appointment.
Severe Pain
If you experience severe pain while eating or drinking, your dentist may need to prescribed antibiotics. This is because some types of oral infections can cause pain if they are not treated right away.
If you have an abscessed tooth, which is a pocket of pus that develops under the gum tissue, you should see a dentist because it can burst and lead to infections throughout the body.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious problem that can cause other health problems. If left untreated, gum disease can result in tooth loss and heart problems, diabetes, stroke and cancer.
Orthodontic Issues
When you’re getting orthodontic work done, it’s possible that your dentist may need to remove a tooth or teeth. This can be done before or after your braces are put on, depending on the situation:
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How Do Dentists Remove Teeth?
The dentist will numb the area of your mouth where the tooth is located. Once numb, he or she will place forceps over your tooth and gently pull it out. The removal process should not hurt, as long as you are properly numbed beforehand. The following are the steps:
X-ray
The first step in treating a tooth is to determine its location. X-rays are used for this purpose, as well as for determining the condition of the tooth. It’s important to know where your teeth are before you remove them, so that they can be replaced with new ones that fit properly into their sockets.
X-rays allow dentists to see inside your mouth and find out where all your teeth are located. If a dentist wants to remove one of your back molars, he or she will need an x-ray image showing him or her where exactly in your jaw that molar is positioned before he or she can safely extract it from its socket without damaging any other nearby structures such as nerves or blood vessels.
Numbing the Area Where the Tooth Will Be Removed
To numb the area, a local anesthetic that numbs your gums, tongue and cheek is placed in your mouth. This allows you to feel very little pain during the procedure. In some cases, dentists may also use a needle to inject anesthesia into the tooth itself. You can also ask your dentist if they are willing to use a nitrous oxide mask if you’re worried about feeling any discomfort at all during this procedure.
Lifting the Tooth Using Forceps
Forceps, also called dental elevators, are a pair of long, thin metal handles with a flat piece of metal between them. The dentist places the flat piece under the tooth and tightens the handles to lift it out. Dental elevator forceps come in different sizes for different types of teeth; for instance, smaller forceps are used on baby teeth and adult molars while larger ones are used on adult premolars and canines.
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Closing the Socket with Stitches
There are two main ways to close the socket: stitches and packing. If you have had your tooth removed under local anesthesia, your dentist will not close the socket; instead, they will give you a mouth guard to protect your teeth and gums as well as instructions on when to return for follow-up care.
If you have had your tooth removed under general anesthesia, then the dentist will close the socket with stitches or packing material. Your dentist may also recommend that you use an antibiotic ointment in addition to a pain reliever at home following surgery.
Provides Tips for Recovering from Tooth Extraction
Your dentist may recommend you take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce pain after your extraction. You also can use a topical anesthetic gel, such as benzocaine, to numb the area around your extraction site. You should avoid using this medication if you have diabetes or any other medical condition that affects blood sugar levels. Your dentist will provide additional information to help you recover from the tooth extraction.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful and interesting in discussing each major method used to remove teeth. It is the opinion of our authors that the best method for removing a tooth will vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the tooth, the age of the patient, and the type of tooth. If you’re in need of tooth extraction right now, you can check out this dentist who offers painless tooth extraction, emergency care, and quality teeth whitening in Lunenburg.
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