Tooth extraction can become unavoidable for a number of different reasons. Your tooth may be infected or damaged beyond repair, or you may need your wisdom teeth to be removed before they cause further problems. How do you know if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. Donald J. Alexander and Dr. Michael M. Greenburg, respected dental partners in Jacksonville, FL explain.
A Last Resort
In many cases, tooth extraction is a last resort. At our practice, Drs. Alexander and Greenburg take care to make sure we provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems. We want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. If conservative methods have failed or we don’t believe that they’re feasible, that’s when a tooth extraction is recommended.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may need to be removed. If you’re suffering from severe tooth decay or it has been extremely damaged from trauma such as in an accident, the tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also taken out when your teeth are overcrowded and causing problems with your day-to-day life.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion. This is when your bite does not line up properly. Malocclusion can be the cause of many serious oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. An even bite that meets where it’s supposed to help to even out the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This lessens the chance of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth typically emerge in your late teens or early twenties and you are more likely than not to need your wisdom teeth removed. Very few people are able to hold onto their wisdom teeth through their entire life without issues. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and can be more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also become impacted in your jaw. This is when the teeth are growing in at an odd angle and are butting up against other teeth mostly under the gums before they’ve even begun to erupt. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at one time through a surgical procedure for which you’ll be sedated.
The Extraction Process
Dr. Alexander and Dr. Greenburg want to ensure you have the optimum experience for your tooth extraction. First, you’ll receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being removed. If you suffer from dental fear, we offer sedation dentistry options to make certain you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
Once you’re suitably numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be carefully severed by the dentist. The tooth is then gently moved back and forth in the socket to remove the actual tooth. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the cavity and also helps to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Jacksonville, FL
Have a tooth that may need to be removed? Call 904.901.4302 or schedule an appointment online with Dr. Alexander or Dr. Greenburg.