Tooth extraction may become necessary for a number of different reasons. Your tooth may be infected or damaged, or perhaps you need your wisdom teeth to be taken out before they cause serious issues. How do you know if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. Glen Wainwright in Austin, Texas explains.
A Last Resort
In most cases, tooth extraction is viewed as a last resort. At Austin Dental Care, we strive to provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems. We want to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. Once conservative methods have failed or if we don’t believe that they will be effective, that’s when a tooth extraction is recommended.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may need to be extracted. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been broken, chipped or cracked from trauma, the tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also taken out when your teeth are overcrowded and causing pain.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help correct malocclusion – when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can cause many oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. Having an even bite that meets where it’s supposed to evens out the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This reduces the risk of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth usually erupt in the late teens or early twenties and are commonly extracted. In fact, very few people are able to keep their wisdom teeth throughout their lifetime without them causing any issues. Wisdom teeth can cause overcrowding in the teeth which can lead to discomfort and are more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also become impacted in your jaw. This means that they’re coming in at an odd angle, stuck mostly under the gums, and are causing problems by butting up against your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time through a surgical procedure. You’ll be sedated and the wisdom teeth will be removed before they cause too many problems.
The Extraction Process
For a simple tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s being extracted. If you suffer from dental phobia, we offer sedation dentistry options to make sure you’re calm and comfortable throughout the process.
Once you’re comfortably numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be slowly severed. The tooth is gently rocked back and forth in the socket to remove the actual tooth. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze which helps a blood clot form in the empty cavity while also helping to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Austin, TX
Have a tooth that you think may need to be removed? Dr. Wainwright uses cutting edge digital technology and modern techniques to plan all extractions. Dr. Wainwright provides high-quality dental care in West Austin, Lost Creek, West Lake Hills, Barton Creek, and all of Travis County, Texas. Call 512-518-6392 or schedule an appointment online for a consultation with Dr. Wainwright at Austin Dental Care.