Tooth extraction is the surgical elimination of a tooth with the help of surgical methods and an anesthetic. It is suggested in cases where a tooth is rotten, teeth are becoming overcrowded, or when a tooth has fallen off due to some reason or other.
In olden times, tooth extraction used to be a painful and uncomfortable procedure but modern technology has made it bearable. Tooth extraction is recommended only after carefully examining the teeth. It becomes absolutely essential when no other dental treatment is likely to work and the affected tooth begins to affect other teeth or the whole mouth.
Before receiving the procedure, you should let your dentist know if you are suffering from any diseases like, a liver disease, diabetes, an adrenal disease or even an impaired immune system, etc. because the dentist may want you to be fully recovered or in a stable condition to receive the treatment. There basically two types of teeth extraction:
- Surgical extraction
When teeth have not fully erupted out of the gums, this kind of extraction is performed. An incision is made to remove the tooth that is embedded inside the gums. Mostly, the tooth is cut into little pieces for easy extraction. This process is also beneficial for impacted teeth and the back molars.
- Simple extraction
If the tooth has erupted over the gums, this kind of procedure is performed. The tooth grip is loosened using a dental equipment called elevator. The crown as well as the root of the tooth is removed. This procedure is preferred for teeth that are decayed, poorly infected and overcrowded.
Tooth extraction improves oral health in the following ways.
1. The tooth stops aching
Some patients report that they still experience some degree of pain even after obtaining the proper treatment for their ailment. This happens because of underlying conditions. Normally it is because of infection that has reached to the roots of the teeth as well as other teeth. It causes a sharp pain in the tooth and gums. Such conditions should be treated as soon as possible, because long delays mean more pain to the patient. Also, the longer treatment is delayed the more severe the infection becomes. Tooth extraction helps in such conditions. It is the final full stop to your pain.
2. Helps in overcrowding
When there is not enough space in the mouth for permanent teeth to grow, it is called overcrowding. Overcrowding often results in crooked teeth. Such teeth also overlap each other and are misaligned. Pain and discomfort are also normal. Cleaning teeth becomes difficult, resulting in growth of bacteria and general uncleanliness. Tooth extraction largely helps in such cases. Cleaning them also becomes easier and convenient. It creates space for other teeth and improves the appearance of teeth as well.
3. Helps impacted tooth
Teeth which cannot erupt completely out of the gums are called impacted teeth. Such teeth face obstruction while rising from the gums. Patients also experience swelling and discomfort in the surrounding gums. Sometimes the impacted tooth erupts, but in such a way that it affects the shape and structure of other teeth, such teeth are also irregular in shape and size. Sometimes, it can also be blocked due to a baby tooth that is still remaining intact and hasn’t fallen off or is blocked by a permanent tooth. Depending on the condition of the tooth, either simple extraction is performed or surgical extraction is performed.
4. Helps wisdom teeth
Back molars or wisdom teeth are uncomfortable and are simply oversized for the human jaw. They erupt between late teens to early twenties. They have to be removed to make appropriate space for other teeth and to protect other teeth from getting infected. They should be removed as soon as possible. Surgical extraction is recommended. Removing wisdom teeth helps enhance oral and dental health. However, some people do not grow wisdom teeth and therefore no tooth extraction is needed, these people are the fortunate ones.
5. Helps in injury
During an unfortunate accident, it is possible to break your teeth. From car crashes to falling off a cliff, teeth can be sensitive to a certain damage. Sometimes the teeth will be left half hanging, sometimes it will be injured to the root or it can be damaged to the point of no recovery. Tooth extraction is beneficial and very necessary in such cases. It removes the tooth completely and the tooth socket is cleaned thoroughly. Doing so eliminates the growth of bacteria.
6. A solution for periodontal diseases
Infection of the gums, starting from gingivitis, is called periodontal disease. When the disease becomes severe, it affects the periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. It sometimes causes loss of a tooth. Tooth extraction can help in such cases by completely removing the tooth and leaving the mouth germ-free.
7. Removes risk of infection
Due to tooth decay, the damage can penetrate through the tooth straight to the pulp. This way, bacteria can also enter the pulp and spread infection to other teeth. The infection spreads itself very quickly and can cover the whole set of teeth if it is not treated at the right time. It keeps becoming severe and may require dental surgeries. Such teeth ailments can be treated with appropriate procedures like Root Canal Procedure and certain antibiotics. But, if the damage is too severe, such treatments can still leave behind germs which can cause undesirable infections. On the other hand, tooth removal ensures complete prevention from further infections.
8. Protects other teeth
Infection can spread easily from one tooth to other neighboring teeth. The patient should recognize spread of infection before it spreads itself to more teeth. The infection can even spread to tissues and lines. Many complex procedures are recommended if the damage is not too severe. The patient may even begin losing teeth. But, if it’s already too late, tooth removal becomes the best option. Removal of the infected tooth helps in preventing spread of that infection.
