The Truth About How Getting A Tooth Pulled Can Help General Oral Health

SOMETIMES, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD OBTAINING YOUR STRAIGHTER, MORE ATTRACTIVE SMILE
Back when you were still a child, pulling a tooth signaled a little money from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, once you had all your permanent teeth, losing a tooth became much less fun. There are loads of reasons why you might need a dental extraction to improve your dental health, such as a tooth that hasn't erupted, to avoid overcrowding, or a decayed tooth. While a dental extraction may not sound like a good time, it's not as intimidating or uncomfortable as it used to be. With current methods and multiple sedation options, MINT dentistry in Denton makes tooth extractions a bit easier if you need one. Our team in Denton, TX will carefully assess the tooth before determining you need an extraction. When a tooth needs to be removed, our team strives to make sure you are relaxed from beginning to end. Keep reading to explore the two types of tooth extractions and common reasons a tooth may need to be removed.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
There are a lot of reasons that a tooth might need to get removed. To begin, the team at MINT dentistry in Denton will determine the reason for your oral issue. Then, they will determine which kind of tooth removal best fits your needs. Most dental extractions fit into two primary categories:

• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  A dental care provider will conduct a simple extraction if the tooth can be seen above the gums. The tooth may be loosened with a dental tool known as an elevator before the crown and root are removed from the jawbone and gums. This method is typically selected if a tooth is severely infected, very decayed, or not able to be saved, or to address overcrowded teeth.
• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  A surgical extraction will be conducted when the crown hasn't fully broken through the gums. This means that an incision is necessary to extract the tooth inside the tissue. If needed, the tooth may be divided into several pieces for a less invasive removal. This method is generally utilized to take out the back molars or a tooth that hasn't erupted.

COMMON REASONS YOU MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A TOOTH EXTRACTED
Several different oral problems may lead to having to get a tooth extraction. One of the leading reasons patients in Denton, TX would get a dental extraction is to head off tooth eruption failure. These are several of the other common reasons you may need a tooth extraction:

• TOOTH OVERCROWDING
  In many cases, a tooth or teeth may have to be extracted to prepare for an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or metal braces. These treatments are made to shift the teeth into their correct positions, which may mean pulling one or multiple teeth if there is not enough room so the others are able to fit. Overcrowded teeth are generally resolved with a simple extraction.
• IMPACTED TOOTH
  When patients have an impacted tooth, it means there is some type of problem preventing the tooth from growing through the gum tissue. An impacted tooth could be obstructed by a baby tooth that still hasn't come out naturally, or it may be moving in an irregular direction and is blocked by a neighboring adult (permanent) tooth. Depending on the reason for the impaction, the dentist may perform a simple or surgical extraction to reduce pain or keep you from getting an infection.
• INJURY TO THE TOOTH
  Unfortunately, bad luck can happen to us all, and, sometimes, our teeth could be harmed. While the best solution is generally to make all efforts to save the tooth, it may not be possible. The trauma might be due to a car collision or maybe an athletic or on-the-job accident, but whatever the reason, people in Denton, TX really need to plan a consultation with a dentist if they've experienced a mouth injury. It's possible that the harm isn't noticeable right away.
• MOLARS
  Most people's third molars, frequently known as the wisdom teeth, will most likely need to be extracted. The modern human jaw typically isn't large enough to fit these additional teeth, so if they start to erupt from the gum tissue (typically during the late teens to early twenties), your dentist may recommend a surgical extraction. It's key to have your third molars taken out as early as you can, before your teeth get infected or impacted. However, a small number of people never have to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. Very rarely, some fortunate people don't develop all four molars or any at all!
• EXTREME DECAY
  When a dental cavity is left untreated or not treated promptly, it may spread to the pulp in the tooth. While a root canal could possibly be conducted to preserve the tooth, it may have to be removed if the decay is bad enough to undermine the tooth. A simple extraction can stop the decay and infection from transferring to other teeth, the gums, jawbone, and, finally, your circulatory system.

HEALING TIME AFTER A TOOTH EXTRACTION
Following a tooth extraction, it's necessary to pay attention to and carefully follow your dentist’s after-care directions. A simple extraction will generally require less healing time than a surgical extraction, but it is going to depend on each case. You might be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection, as well as a pain medication. You may choose to go on a liquid diet for the first couple of days after the procedure, when your mouth is still sore and healing. This is a great opportunity to snack on a little ice cream, but you ought to also make protein shakes, etc., for healthier meals. You need to stop using any tobacco products, both before and following your treatment, because they can lower your body's ability to heal. Your dentist may recommend using an antibiotic oral rinse until you given the okay to go back to flossing and brushing again.

THE ROAD TO A HEALTHIER, SEXIER SMILE MIGHT INCLUDE A TOOTH EXTRACTION
A dental extraction might be required for several reasons, such as to prevent an infection from spreading, to resolve an impaction, or just to provide your remaining teeth more space. Treating all of these problems at MINT dentistry in Denton is part of obtaining your sexiest smile. Reach out to our office in Denton, TX to schedule a consultation with our skilled staff to learn whether a surgical or simple extraction might be the most effective option for your new and improved smile.