Why would I need a tooth extraction?
A tooth extraction procedure involves the surgical removal of a tooth that is causing your oral health to suffer. Whether it be from damage, decay, crowding other teeth, or growing in crooked, these painful and uncomfortable conditions may leave you needing a tooth extraction.
The procedure is sometimes known as “pulling teeth”. There’s no reason to fear a tooth extraction.
4 Myths About Tooth Extraction
Here are some myths about the procedure that we often hear from concerned patients:
1. Having a tooth pulled will hurt.
One of the most pervasive misconceptions around tooth extraction is that you’ll feel pain during the procedure. However, this is no longer true as anesthesia, modern technology and best-in-practice dental techniques are used to minimize pain.
2. Tooth extraction is the go-to dental procedure.
This is also not accurate. At Southwood Dental, we try to avoid extracting teeth in favour of preventive, more non-invasive treatment methods, since extraction can sometimes result in dental issues (such as misalignment) or needing more treatments such as tooth replacements in the future.
Unless the tooth is severely infected, damaged, fractured or decayed beyond repair, alternatives such as a root canal are often recommended.
However, sometimes a tooth extraction is unavoidable. A couple of ways to reduce your chances of needing a tooth extraction is to practice excellent oral hygiene and to wear a mouthguard during high-impact sports and physical activities.
3. You will have a long recovery
Though you may envision needing to cancel commitments and move your schedule around for some time, this isn’t the case. In most cases, you should recover from the surgery within 3 to 4 days and be able to return to work or school.
However, some patients take up to a week to recover if the extraction was complex. Though complete healing of the tooth socket may take 2 to 4 weeks, your mouth should be functional again within those few days. To speed recovery, stick to a diet of soft foods and avoid smoking, or performing strenuous physical activity which can dislodge the blood clot.
Ask your dentist about other after-care instructions that help to promote healing, reduce pain and prevent the tooth socket from becoming infected.
4. Everyone will need to have their wisdom teeth pulled.
Though you may hear a lot about people between the ages of 17 and 25 needing their wisdom teeth extracted, there are instances where our dentists will not recommend the procedure. In some cases, your wisdom teeth may emerge without causing potential harm, pain or damage to the rest of your teeth.
To find out whether you need your wisdom teeth removed, schedule an appointment with our Mill Woods dentists.