Tooth Extractions: Everything You Need to Know

An extraction is a procedure to remove a tooth from its socket in the jawbone, usually due to disease or injury. At Homeland Avenue Dentistry, our dentist may perform a simple extraction if your tooth is impacted or has not erupted through the gums. Our dentist will grasp the tooth with forceps and gently rock it back and forth to loosen it and the surrounding gum tissue. Once loose enough to be removed, the dentist will remove the tooth using a series of controlled movements to remove it from the socket. In some cases, the removal will be more complex and require surgical incisions to access the tooth entirely. In these cases, our dentist will have you under anesthesia during the procedure to ensure maximum comfort. After the process, you may need stitches to close the extraction site, although these are usually dissolvable. Our dentist may also give you antibiotics to prevent infection at the site. Recovery usually takes a few days, and the extraction site may take months to heal completely.

Common Reasons for Tooth Extractions

A tooth extraction might be necessary to preserve your overall health or improve your smile's look. There are several reasons you may need an extraction, including:

• Severe tooth decay that can’t be treated through fillings or other restorative procedures.
• Damaged teeth are caused by trauma, such as an accident involving your mouth.
• Orthodontic treatment that won’t address specific tooth problems.
• Wisdom teeth that are impacted must be removed before they cause pain.
• Dental infections that are unable to be treated with root canal therapy.
• Teeth that are poorly positioned in the mouth due to crowding in the mouth or malocclusions.

The Benefits of Tooth Extraction

• If a tooth is painful or infected, an extraction is necessary to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the mouth. Damaged teeth also lead to further tooth loss if not treated and extracted promptly. 
• When teeth are crowded or blocked out by other teeth, it becomes challenging to maintain good oral hygiene habits such as flossing and brushing. This can lead to serious health issues like gum disease and cavities. Removing these problem teeth can help to prevent an array of dental issues down the line.
• Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to discomfort and pain as they push against other teeth and irritate the gums. In some cases, they can cause cysts or tumors to develop in the mouth's soft tissue. Removing the teeth before they cause problems is much better than removing damaged ones later on.

A tooth extraction is a routine procedure that your dentist can efficiently perform. Removing a tooth when it’s causing severe oral pain or infection is essential, or if the teeth are crowding one another. Visit Homeland Avenue Dentistry at 1037 Homeland Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405, or call (336) 272-0132 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our team!