Dental Extractions: Why Are They Important?
Dental extractions are often an important and necessary part of having a healthy smile. We remove teeth for a variety of reasons, but almost always it’s because the tooth can no longer stay in the mouth and be a healthy part of your body. When we suggest to one of our dental patients that they will need to have a tooth removed, we get lots of questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions on dental extracyions.
Why Does My Tooth Need to be Removed?
If we’ve suggested that you need to have a tooth removed, it’s generally for a reason that is important to helping you maintain a healthy mouth and smile. Damaged and decayed teeth can cause other problems for your mouth, so if you have a tooth that is badly decayed or has suffered substantial damage, we will probably recommend that it is removed. Another common reason that we recommend a tooth extraction is because it won’t fit in your mouth. This is most often the case with your wisdom teeth. By the time most of our patient’s wisdom teeth are ready to come in, there just isn’t enough room in the mouth. We remove the wisdom teeth to avoid shifting of the rest of the teeth and problems like TMJ.
How is my Tooth Removed?
For most patients, extracting a tooth is a relatively simple procedure. Before removing the tooth, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed so you don’t feel any pain. For some patients a bit of Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas helps them relax. Once you are relaxed and your mouth is numb, we use special tools to gently remove the tooth. You won’t feel pain, but will feel a bit of pressure. For some patients with more extensive extractions, we may recommend an oral surgeon and complete sedation. This makes the process easier, and more comfortable for the patient.
What Happens After the Extraction?
Your mouth will be pretty tender after an extraction. We recommend that you take it easy for at least 24 hours after having a tooth removed. You are provided with a list of directions to help ease the recovery of your mouth following the extraction. We encourage all of our dental patients to follow these closely.
Once your mouth has healed, we will begin the process of placing dental implants or creating permanent tooth replacements such as dentures and partials. These features will function best if the permanent version is fitted after all swelling has subsided. Because these features will be a life-long replacement for a missing tooth, it’s important that you follow all instructions that we provide to ensure proper healing of your jaw and gums.
For More Information on Dental Extractions in Warren, Michigan
We understand that having a tooth removed is often a scary and unpleasant experience. However, for some patients, it’s the only option that helps them toward a beautiful, healthy smile. Warren dentist, Dr. Apsey and the Smile Brightly team does everything they can to make this process as painless and comfortable as possible. If you are looking for a great dentist near Warren, Michigan to help you achieve a healthy smile, Dr. Apsey can provide you with everything from routine cleanings to dental implants and braces. For more information on all of the services provided by the Smile Brightly team or to make an appointment, call us today at (586) 573-7700.