Emergency Tooth Extraction
Why extract a tooth?
Generally, the best way to maintain your oral health is to prevent tooth decay and gum disease through regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits. However, sometimes, it is possible that you will have a tooth that is in too bad of a condition and must be removed by your dentist. If you are experiencing intense tooth pain, this might be a sign that an emergency tooth extraction might be necessary.
But how is the need for extraction defined and when is a tooth extraction necessary?
In the past, there were not as many resources as there are today, so tooth extraction was commonly practiced. However, now that we know the damage it can cause to the functionality of the arches and to the patient's self-esteem, the dentist studies each case thoroughly to see if it is really necessary to resort to this technique.
It is only performed when effective treatment is not possible or when there is a very high risk of a tooth damaging other structures in the mouth. Here are some situations where the extraction is really essential and why it should be done:
* Deep caries
Caries cause wear and tear on the tooth structure. It is caused by the action of bacteria. If left untreated, it becomes deep. When this happens, the lesion affects the vital structures of the tooth and it is not always possible to recover it.
* Infections
Depending on the severity of a dental infection, conventional treatments with medication may not be enough. If the dentist finds that the problem is likely to spread and compromise other structures, he chooses to have the affected tooth extracted.
* Tooth included
An impacted tooth is a tooth that is partially erupted or not erupted at all and still causing problems or pain. It gets stuck in the bone and can therefore cause very unpleasant symptoms and even harm the rest of the teeth. It is very common for wisdom teeth to be removed to prevent major damage.
* Lack of arcade space
Some people have a very small dental arch, which can only accommodate 32 teeth. When this happens, some patients who need orthodontic treatment may also have other teeth removed to increase this space to align the arch and ensure the bite fits.
What are the types of tooth extraction?
As you may have seen, tooth extraction is performed in very different situations. The dentist uses the most appropriate technique depending on the problem, the characteristics of the case and the needs of each patient. Simple or surgical procedures can be performed.
Single extraction
The extraction of a single tooth is done when it is completely erupted from the gums but is diseased or causes damage to the rest of the arch. It is a less invasive method, as there is no need to make cuts.
This procedure requires the application of local anesthesia in the dentist's office, which may be a general practitioner. It uses a specific tool to pry, leaving the tooth soft and loose. He then uses the dental forceps to remove it completely.
Surgical extraction
Surgical extraction is adopted in cases where the tooth is partially erupted, is impacted, or the tooth fragments that are still stuck in the arch need to be removed. This technique is only performed under local anesthesia and in the office. It can only be performed by a dentist or a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
To perform this type of extraction, an incision must be made in the gums to access the extraction site. In some cases, it is also necessary to remove part of the bone that covers the tooth, which makes the procedure a little more complex.
