The answer is, yes. There are still reasons that a patient may need a tooth extraction. However, today, tooth extractions are only performed when all else fails (not counting wisdom teeth, of course). In today's blog we discuss why dentists still pull teeth.
Yes, the teeth being removed may be healthy, but the results made possible by their removal are usually more desirable overall. Contrary to what you may read elsewhere, we orthodontists are not uncaring monsters who don't care about preserving healthy teeth.
Talking to your dentist about your options
If there is a need to remove all, or some, of your teeth, your dentist will discuss the procedure with you. They will also talk to you about the best option for replacing your teeth. This varies from person to person as dental implants are not suitable for everyone.
You may need to have a tooth extracted if: Periodontal disease has badly infected the tooth. The tooth is badly damaged and cannot be restored by a filling or a crown. You are suffering from pain even after a filling, crown, or treatment for a root canal.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract.
Facial Structure: The positioning of your teeth in your mouth may make it difficult for a dentist to perform the extraction without causing discomfort. Things like large sinuses, or limited jaw mobility necessitate an extraction by an oral surgeon.
Many dentists lack the experience and the skill to remove difficult teeth. Teeth that have had root canals, have long roots, or are ankylosed (fused) to your bone tissue are nightmares to take out for a lot of dental practitioners.
Tooth infections are severe and generally need people to be treated with antibiotics before proceeding with the removal. In such cases, dentists prefer performing endodontic therapy to preserve the tooth. However, if the tooth's internal structure is affected, the only alternative available is to extract the tooth.
Dental patients sometimes assume that tooth extraction causes more pain than it alleviates, but this is not typically true. In fact, in many cases, extracting a tooth may be the only way to help a patient achieve complete pain relief.
Removal of the infected tooth doesn't eliminate the infection in your jawbone, requiring antibiotics to eradicate the condition from your mouth.
Dentures and dental bridges are both options for replacing missing teeth – and they can both be secured using dental implants, too. Dentures are used to replace all the teeth in your mouth, either top, bottom, or both. A dental bridge is used to replace a few teeth that are missing consecutively.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
It's usually best to save healthy natural teeth
When your natural teeth are healthy and won't compromise your oral health, it's usually best to save them. Replacing teeth with a removable appliance—a partial or full denture—has many disadvantages.
Your dentist will widen your tooth socket and gently loosen your tooth before they remove it. Sometimes your dentist may need to put a stitch in the empty socket to help it heal. You'll feel some pressure in your mouth when you have a tooth removed but it shouldn't be painful.
The teeth are placed in a hazardous waste container and then incinerated once it's picked up at the dental office. The CDC has different guidelines for teeth containing metal fillings. Because the metal might release toxic fumes during incineration, they need to be sent to a specialized recycling center instead.
Your dentist will tell you how easy or difficult each tooth will be to remove after looking at the x-rays. Upper wisdom teeth are often easier to remove than lower ones, which are more likely to be impacted.
Many of the front teeth are round, so they can be removed without damaging bone quite easily. However most of your back teeth have two or three roots and cannot just be “pulled out” without breaking something.
Typically, your oral surgeon will ask that you at least take about 48-72 hours to relax afterward so the treatment area is allowed to clot. After that, a patient should be able to return to normal physical activity. The soft tissue will usually fully heal in about 3-4 weeks.
In short, yes, your dentist can pull an infected tooth, as long as they have the pain in control. If they cannot freeze your tooth, you'll need to go on antibiotics for 3–7 days before they can extract it. Your dentist may need to refer you to an oral surgeon in more severe cases.
If you're trying to choose between the two options and wondering “which is more painful, a tooth extraction or a filling,” removing a tooth results in a longer period of discomfort compared to a filling procedure.
If the affected tooth can't be saved, your dentist will pull (extract) the tooth and drain the abscess to get rid of the infection. Prescribe antibiotics. If the infection is limited to the abscessed area, you may not need antibiotics.
Usually, when a tooth is removed by a dentist, the roots are taken out with it. However, if the tooth is lost through accident or decay, the root or roots may be retained within the jawbone and gums, causing problems such as mouth infections and pain. If this is the case, the roots need to be surgically removed.
Within the first 24 hours after tooth removal surgery, you should avoid consuming anything that involves chewing. Try to limit yourself to liquids exclusively. If they don't fill you up and you want to consume solid food, go for soft meals that don't need much chewing, like pudding or oatmeal.
Bacteria will eventually get to exposed soft tissues in the pulp chamber when the decay is left untreated. This leads to an infection, which leads to excruciating toothaches. A tooth infection can spread to areas like the brain where it can be life-threatening.
However, if a tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may not be able to save it. In these cases, they will normally recommend that the tooth be removed. Dentists may recommend removal in the following circumstances: Dental injury resulting in a cracked or fractured tooth or root.