The Truth About How Getting A Tooth Extracted Can Boost Overall Dental Health

SOMETIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS A NECESSARY PART OF OBTAINING YOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE
Back when you were still very young, losing a tooth meant a dollar or two from the tooth fairy. Sadly, when you got all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became a lot less enjoyable. There are numerous reasons why you might have a tooth extraction to maintain your oral health, such as an impacted tooth, to prevent overcrowding, or an infected tooth. Even though a dental extraction may not seem like a good time, it's not as scary or painful as it once was. Using modern techniques and multiple sedation choices, MINT dentistry in North Richland Hills makes dental extractions a little easier if you need one. Our dental staff in North Richland Hills, TX will carefully evaluate the area prior to determining you need an extraction. When a tooth has to be extracted, our staff works hard to make sure you are comfortable from start to finish. Keep reading to learn about both methods of dental extractions and the top reasons why a tooth might need to be pulled.

TYPES OF TOOTH EXTRACTIONS
There are a lot of reasons that a tooth may have to get pulled. First, the team at MINT dentistry in North Richland Hills will establish the reason for your dental problem. Then, they can determine which kind of tooth removal best fits your needs. Almost all dental extractions fall into two basic categories:

• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  Your dental care provider will perform a simple extraction if your tooth has erupted over the gumline. The tooth can be loosened using a tool called an elevator before the tooth and root are removed from the jawbone and gum tissue. This method is mainly selected when a tooth is badly infected, extremely decayed, or irreparable, or to make room for overcrowding.
• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  An extraction surgery will be conducted if the tooth hasn't totally broken through the gumline. This means that an incision is necessary to reach the tooth below the tissue. If needed, the tooth may be cut into multiple pieces for a less invasive removal. Extraction surgery is generally chosen to pull the back molars or a nonerupted tooth.

COMMON REASONS YOU COULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A TOOTH REMOVED
Several types of dental problems can result in the need for a tooth extraction. One of the top reasons people in North Richland Hills, TX will need a tooth extraction is to head off an impacted tooth. These are many of the other routine reasons you may need a dental extraction:

• TOOTH OVERCROWDING
  Often, one or more teeth might have to be taken out before an orthodontic treatment, for example, Invisalign or metal braces. These treatments are designed to gently push the teeth into their proper alignment, which may necessitate removing one or multiple teeth if there is overcrowding so the remaining teeth can fit. Tooth overcrowding is typically treated with simple extraction.
• EXTREME DECAY
  In cases where a cavity is ignored or not addressed promptly, it will likely extend into the pulp within the tooth. While a root canal might potentially be performed to save the tooth, it may need to be removed if the damage is severe enough to weaken the tooth's structure. A simple extraction can prevent the decay and disease from getting into your other teeth, the gum tissue, jaw, and, ultimately, your bloodstream.
• IMPACTED TOOTH
  When you have an impacted tooth, it means there is some sort of obstruction keeping the tooth from pushing through the gum tissue. An impacted tooth could be blocked by a baby tooth that hasn't fallen out on its own, or it may be growing in the wrong direction and is obstructed by another adult (permanent) tooth. Depending upon the cause of the impaction, your dentist may perform a surgical or simple extraction to stop pain or keep you from getting an infection.
• WISDOM TEETH
  Many patients' third molars, also called the wisdom teeth, will, in all likelihood, need to be removed. The human jaw normally isn't large enough to fit these extra teeth, so as they start to grow out of the gums (usually from the late teens to early twenties), your dentist could suggest a surgical extraction. It's crucial to get the third molars removed as soon as possible, before your teeth get impacted or infected. But some individuals don't have to get their wisdom teeth extracted. Occasionally, some fortunate people don't grow all four wisdom teeth or any whatsoever!
• DAMAGE TO THE TOOTH
  Unfortunately, injuries can happen to the best of us, and, sometimes, our teeth could be damaged. Although the ideal choice is usually to attempt to preserve the tooth, it might not be possible. The damage may be caused by a car crash or perhaps an athletic or work incident, but whatever the reason, patients in North Richland Hills, TX really should plan a consultation with a dental professional if they have a tooth injury. Sometimes, the harm isn't obvious right away.

HEALING PERIOD FOR A DENTAL EXTRACTION
When you've had a tooth extraction, it's vital to pay attention to and strictly follow your dentist’s healing directions. A simple extraction will generally require less healing time than a surgical extraction; however, it is going to be different for each specific case. You may be prescribed antibiotics to hold off infection, and maybe a pain reliever. You may decide to stick to a liquid diet for the initial couple of days following the extraction, while your mouth is still sore and recovering. This is a good chance to eat some ice cream, but you need to also make smoothies, etc., for more nutritious meals. You must stop ingesting all tobacco products, both prior to and after your treatment, since they will reduce your body's ability to heal. Your dentist might suggest using an antibiotic mouthwash until you given the okay to start brushing and flossing again.

THE BEST WAY TO A HEALTHIER, MORE ALLURING SMILE MIGHT INCLUDE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A dental extraction could be performed for several reasons, such as to keep decay from affecting other teeth, to resolve an impaction, or simply to provide your remaining teeth additional space. Dealing with all of these issues at MINT dentistry in North Richland Hills is key to getting your best smile. Contact our team in North Richland Hills, TX to arrange a consultation with our skilled dental professionals to find out if a simple or surgical extraction might be the most effective answer for your oral health.