Tooth Extractions Basalt COTooth Extractions provided by Dr. Marcus Blue in Basalt, CO at Blue Periodontics  Dental extractions, more commonly referred to as having a tooth pulled, is a common and often necessary dental procedure. There are several reasons why one may need a tooth pulled and it is not always because the tooth is failing, although this is typically the case. Extracting teeth that are causing issues is one of the oldest dental procedures and with the use of anesthetics it should be relatively painless if you are even awake for the procedure at all.Our team at Blue Periodontics handles each tooth extraction delicately and with professionalism to ensure that each patient’s procedure goes smoothly and without pain. In this article, we will go over some of the reasons that teeth need to be extracted and the steps of the procedure itself. Why Would a Tooth Need to Be Extracted?According to WebMD, several reasons exist for why a tooth may need to be extracted. Even healthy teeth need to be extracted sometimes if they are causing issues for the rest of the mouth. An example of this may be that a tooth is causing overcrowding, such as the case of wisdom teeth. Overcrowding can result in jaw misalignment, cosmetic issues that need braces to correct, and pain in the mouth. It is best to extract a healthy tooth that has the potential to cause harm before more serious medical intervention is needed to absolve the issue. Another reason a tooth may need to be removed is because of periodontitis, or gum disease. If the underlying structures supporting the tooth begin to decay, the nearby tooth may need to be pulled so the gum disease can be treated and an implant can be put in its place. It is also possible that the tooth itself has become rotted or decayed and is causing pain to the patient. In this case, the tooth should be extracted to prevent further rot and to alleviate the pain. If the tooth has become severely damaged due to a traumatic accident it may also need to be removed. Tooth decay can also lead to infection as bacteria are allowed to enter deeper parts of the jaw. A root canal and antibiotics can sometimes save the tooth, but in severe cases, the tooth will need to be removed altogether to stop the infection from spreading. What Is the Procedure for a Tooth Extraction?Tooth extraction is normally performed by an oral surgeon. The surgeon will use either a strong local anesthetic or a general anesthetic to knock you out completely. Once the surgeon is sure that you cannot feel any pain, the procedure will begin. The surgeon will then identify the affected tooth and use forceps to rock it back and forth until it becomes loose enough to pull out. Often an infected tooth will already have a weakened support structure so it will come out more easily. If the tooth is secure, it may need to come out in pieces, which is usually what occurs when extracting an impacted canine. Once the tooth is out, the surgeon will place gauze in the gap to stop the bleeding. Stitches may be used to close the wound as well, but not always. The surgeon will prescribe you some sort of pain medicine to help with the residual pain in the following days of healing. Tooth extractions are a common dental procedure and are relatively painless with today’s medicine. If you think that you may need a tooth removed, call Blue Periodontics at (970) 678-3473 to set up an appointment today and get an opinion from one of our team members. |
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