Learn All About How Having A Tooth Extracted Can Help General Dental Health

OFTEN, TOOTH EXTRACTION IS A NECESSARY PART OF ACHIEVING YOUR SEXIER, HEALTHIER SMILE
Long ago, when you were a little kid, pulling a tooth signaled a visit from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, as soon as you had all your permanent teeth, it became significantly less enjoyable. There are several reasons why you might need a tooth extraction to help your oral health, like an impacted tooth, to avoid overcrowding, or an infected tooth. While a tooth extraction might not sound like a good time, it's not as frightening or uncomfortable as it once was. With modern techniques and many sedation choices, MINT dentistry in Little York makes tooth extractions a little easier in case you require one. Our dental staff in Houston, TX will thoroughly examine the tooth or teeth before recommending an extraction. When a tooth needs to be extracted, our staff strives to make sure you stay comfortable from beginning to end. Keep reading to learn about both main techniques of tooth extractions and the leading reasons a tooth may need to be extracted.

TECHNIQUES USED FOR DENTAL EXTRACTIONS
There are a lot of reasons why a tooth may have to get extracted. First, your team at MINT dentistry in Little York will determine the reason for your dental issue. After that, they will be able to determine which type of tooth extraction best suits your needs. Almost all dental extractions are based on two basic categories:

• SIMPLE EXTRACTION
  Your dentist will perform a simple extraction if your crown of the tooth can be seen over the gumline. The tooth may be loosened by a tool called an elevator, and then the tooth and root are taken out of the jawbone and gum tissue. A simple extraction is usually chosen if a tooth is seriously infected, extremely decayed, or damaged beyond repair, or to help with overcrowded teeth.
• SURGICAL EXTRACTION
  A surgical extraction will be done if the tooth hasn't completely erupted out of the gums. This means that an incision is needed to reach the tooth inside the gums. If needed, the tooth could be cut into many pieces for a quicker removal. Extraction surgery is typically used to remove the wisdom teeth or an impacted tooth.

ROUTINE REASONS YOU MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A TOOTH EXTRACTED
A lot of types of tooth issues may result in needing a tooth extraction. One of the leading reasons people in Houston, TX will get a tooth extraction is to prevent tooth eruption failure. These are many of the other standard reasons you might require a dental extraction:

• DAMAGE TO THE TOOTH
  Sadly, injuries can happen to the best of us, and, occasionally, our teeth might be damaged. Although the first option is usually to make all efforts to save the tooth, it isn't always possible. The damage could be a result of a car accident or even a sports or work incident, but no matter the reason, people in Houston, TX really need to schedule a consultation with a dentist if they've suffered a tooth injury. Sometimes, the injury isn't visible to a nonprofessional.
• WISDOM TEETH
  Many patients' back molars, commonly called the wisdom teeth, will, in all likelihood, have to be taken out. The modern human jaw usually isn't big enough fit these extra teeth, so if they start to grow out of the gums (in most people, during the late teens to early twenties), your dentist might need to perform a surgical extraction. It's important to have the third molars removed as soon as you can, before they get infected or impacted. However, a small number of individuals don't have to get their wisdom teeth pulled out. It's uncommon, but some fortunate individuals don't get all four molars or even any whatsoever!
• TOOTH OVERCROWDING
  Often, one or more teeth might have to be taken out before an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign or metal braces. These treatments are done to move the teeth into the proper positions, which could require pulling one or multiple teeth if there is overcrowding so the remaining teeth can fit. Overcrowded teeth are generally addressed with simple extraction.
• TEETH THAT HAVEN'T ERUPTED
  If you have an impacted tooth, it means there is some type of blockage keeping the tooth from erupting through the gums. An impacted tooth could be blocked by a baby tooth that hasn't fallen out on its own, or it may be growing in an abnormal direction and is obstructed by another adult (permanent) tooth. Based on the cause of the impaction, your dentist may recommend a simple or surgical extraction to ease pain or prevent an infection.
• EXTREME CAVITIES
  When a dental cavity is neglected or not addressed in time, it can eat into the pulp within the tooth. While a root canal could potentially be performed to preserve the tooth, it may need to be extracted if the cavity is bad enough to compromise the tooth's structure. A simple extraction may stop the decay and infection from transferring to other teeth, the gum tissue, jaw, and, finally, your circulatory system.

RECOVERY TIME AFTER A TOOTH EXTRACTION
When you've had a tooth extraction, it's critical to pay attention to and diligently follow your dentist’s healing instructions. A simple extraction will usually need less healing time than a surgical extraction; however, it will vary according to every specific case. You might be given a prescription for antibiotics to avoid infection, and maybe a pain reliever. You may opt to follow a soft foods diet for the initial couple of days after the procedure, while your mouth is still sore and recovering. This is a fantastic opportunity to eat a little ice cream, but you ought to also make protein shakes, etc., for more nutritious meals. You need to avoid consuming all tobacco products, before and following your extraction, as they can interfere with your capacity to heal correctly. Your dentist may suggest using an antibiotic mouthwash until you given the okay to begin brushing and flossing again.

THE ROAD TO A BETTER, MORE ALLURING SMILE MAY INCLUDE A DENTAL EXTRACTION
A tooth extraction can be needed for several reasons, including to keep an infection from traveling throughout the body, to treat an impaction, or simply to give your other teeth additional space. Treating all of these issues at MINT dentistry in Little York is part of finally having your most attractive smile. Call our office in Houston, TX to plan a consultation with our skilled staff to determine if a simple or surgical extraction could be the optimal answer for your dental health.