What is Tooth Extraction?
At Coastland Dental, we believe in saving your teeth first. Yet, there will be times when the best option to preserve your oral health is a tooth extraction. As an emergency dentist, we don’t want to extract any teeth unnecessarily and always pursue other possible options. As a preferred method of treatment, our office will always try to restore a tooth before pulling it. But if you need a tooth extraction in Burbank, Coastland Dental is here to provide a low-stress and comfortable experience.
When Is A Tooth Extraction Needed?
There are many reasons why tooth extraction may prove necessary, and some are more common than many people think. Common reasons to need a tooth removed can include:
Accidents And Trauma
Accidents can happen at any time and anywhere, leaving a lasting effect on your teeth and mouth. Unfortunately, trauma to the mouth region can potentially damage your teeth beyond repair. In these cases, an emergency dentist will help remove the damaged tooth to prevent it from negatively affecting your oral health.
Tooth Infections
When a tooth has an infection, the largest concern will be its spread, potentially even spreading to other parts of the body. In some cases, the best solution is to pull the tooth out immediately. So when there’s tooth pain, see the dentist right away to learn about your treatment options. With early intervention and root canal treatment, the dentist can eliminate the infection and save your tooth, keeping your smile intact along the way.
Restoration Costs Will Be Too Much
With varying dental coverage, sometimes an extraction is the best economic choice. Our dental office recognizes that sometimes restorative dental work can be cost-prohibitive, and we always work with patients to find a way for them to cover the costs. However, it will be easier for some patients to pay for an extraction versus a root canal and restoration.
Wisdom Teeth Impaction
During our later teen or early adult years, many of us notice our last set of back molars, our wisdom teeth, appears. For many, this can cause extreme pain due to the lack of jaw space and overcrowding. This lack of room to grow will cause the wisdom teeth to become impacted, which can lead to a range of negative effects. Impaction is the situation where the tooth grows in the wrong direction and presses against neighboring teeth. The best solution for an impacted tooth is generally going to be wisdom teeth removal.
Are Extractions Really Painful?
Knowing you need an extraction can be stressful enough, so we aim to reduce any discomfort or pain to the bare minimum. With this in mind, your dentist will use a numbing agent to protect the extraction site from feeling pain. These agents will numb down or completely remove any pain you might feel and may be combined with sedation for more intensive extractions. For patients with anxiety, many dentists can also use sedation to facilitate a stress-free recovery.
After the tooth is pulled, it’s common to feel pain for a few days while recovering. At this point, the dentist will recommend OTC pain relievers or prescribe you pain medication if needed. If needed, your dentist can also prescribe additional medications to help post-extraction, reducing the risk of inflammation or infection.
The Tooth Extraction Process
With extractions, there are two categories: simple and complex. When a tooth has grown straight out and become exposed, this is a simple extraction. Your dentist has easy access to the tooth and can gently pull it out. When the tooth is beneath the gums or only partially grown out above the gums, this will be a complicated extraction. Complex extractions will need the dentist to cut through the gum. In some cases, the tooth needs to be cut into smaller pieces and then pulled out.
The Recovery Process
Following your extraction, expect to experience soreness and swelling for a few days, which is perfectly normal while your mouth heals. Your dentist will give you instructions on what to do at home to help alleviate the symptoms and reduce the risk of any complications. Standard guidelines will be to take OTC pain relievers for the pain and cold compresses for swelling. Most patients may take a couple of days off from work or school to focus on resting and recovering.
Options For Replacing The Extracted Tooth
After your tooth removal, patients ask what happens next. There are many viable options for patients, such as dental implants, dentures, or bridges. At Coastland Dental, we recommend implants since they have a very high success rate and can last for years to a lifetime. Implants also help you keep healthy jaw bone density.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
So if you’re experiencing pain, contact Coastland Dental today. We will always try to preserve your tooth and only recommend extraction as a last resort. Our dentist understands the urgency of an extraction. This is why our Burbank dentist provides same-day emergency appointments. Call Coastland Dental and get treated by one of the best dentists in Burbank.