What Do I Need to Know About Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Posted on 8/15/2024 by Fairmount Dental Center
Nearly all American adults are missing at least one tooth. The American Dental Association estimates that three-quarters of all American adults have one or more teeth missing. You may be missing a tooth because of genetics or because you lost a tooth in an accident. Sometimes, dentists have to remove or extract a tooth because of disease, trauma, or other factors.
Why Do I Need a Tooth Extracted?
Tooth decay is the most common reason people have to get a tooth taken out. If our dentist can find and fix a cavity in one of your teeth when it is small, your tooth will simply need a filling. However, if a cavity continues to grow, it will cause an infection in your tooth pulp, which is in the center of your tooth. There are occasions when the cavity has progressed in your tooth so far that our dentist will not be able to save it.
Other reasons for tooth extraction can include making room in your mouth to respace your teeth. This often happens when you have large teeth but a small mouth. This is commonly done before starting orthodontic treatment. Also, dentists may have to extract a tooth due to trauma from an accident.
The Process of Tooth Extraction
While the reasons you may need a tooth extraction can be complicated, the tooth extraction process is simple. Our dentist numbs the area around the tooth. Then, they will use a tool to loosen the tooth from the jawbone. Finally, a different tool is used to pull the tooth free. The entire process does not take very much time at all.
If your tooth has been injured, you might have a more complicated extraction. For example, if your tooth is broken into pieces, our dentist may have to remove it in several pieces rather than one whole piece. Wisdom teeth can sometimes be trapped in your jawbone, which means they cannot erupt. Dentists may need to make an incision into your gum tissue to extract the wisdom tooth.
Not sure if you have a tooth that needs to be extracted? Let us help. Give us a call today to make an appointment with our dentist.
Dental Blog | Dentist Salem, OR | Fairmount Dental Center Fairmount Dental Center has created this dental blog to help patients and the community. Click to learn more about dental procedures, home care and more! Fairmount Dental Center, 1524 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR 97302-4310 : (503) 362-8364 : fairmountdentalcenter.com : 10/3/2024 : Related Terms: dentist Salem OR :
Nearly all American adults are missing at least one tooth. The American Dental Association estimates that three-quarters of all American adults have one or more teeth missing. You may be missing a tooth because of genetics or because you lost a tooth in an accident. Sometimes, dentists have to remove or extract a tooth because of disease, trauma, or other factors.
