Tooth extraction may become necessary for a variety of different reasons. Your tooth may be infected or damaged, or you may need your wisdom teeth to be removed before they cause further problems. How can you tell if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. Leah Romay of Baltimore Dental Co. in Glyndon, MD explains.
A Last Resort
In many cases, tooth extraction is an absolute last resort. At Baltimore Dental Co., we make sure we provide our patients with the most conservative treatment possible for their dental problems. We want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. If we are unable to restore the natural tooth or believe it will not be feasible to save it, that’s when a tooth extraction is recommended.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are a number of reasons a tooth may need to be extracted. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been extremely damaged from trauma, it may need to come out. Teeth are also removed when your teeth are overcrowded and causing problems with your day-to-day life.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion, a condition that occurs when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can be the culprit behind many oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. An even bite that meets where it’s supposed to can help to evenly distribute the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This reduces the risk of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth typically emerge in one’s late teens or early twenties. It’s more common than not to need to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Very few people are able to hold onto their wisdom teeth throughout their entire life without having any issues with them. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and can be more susceptible to tooth decay as they’re harder to reach when brushing.
Wisdom teeth can also become impacted in your jaw. This occurs when they erupt at an odd angle, are stuck mostly under the gums and cause problems with your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time through a surgical procedure for which you’ll be sedated.
The Extraction Process
Dr. Romay wants to make sure you have the optimum experience. For a simple tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being removed. If you suffer from dental anxiety, we offer sedation dentistry options to ensure you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
Once you’re comfortably numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be carefully severed. Then, the tooth is gently rocked back and forth in the socket until it can be removed. After the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the empty socket and also prevents food particles from infiltrating and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Glyndon, MD
Have a tooth that may need to be removed? Call 410.220.4680 or request an appointment online with Dr. Romay at Baltimore Dental Co. today.