Your teeth are a very important component in your mouth. They enable you to bite, chew, speak, and smile confidently. They also play an important role in the health of your jawbone. When the teeth are damaged, the preferred solution is to provide a restorative treatment, saving the affected teeth and allowing them to continue to function normally. If your teeth have been too severely damaged, however, an extraction may be necessary. Henderson Oral Surgery can help.
What Happens if Damaged Teeth Are Not Treated?
When teeth are damaged, treatment is needed right away. Even minor damage that does not seem that serious at the time should be examined quickly. Without treatment, even the most minor damage can worsen over time. If you are faced with more significant damage, bacteria may get into the inside of the affected teeth, leading to a serious and painful infection. Infections can lead to an abscess or a sac that forms to contain bacteria spilling out through the root of the tooth into the jawbone. Abscesses not only affect your oral health, but they can also impact your overall health as well.
Do I Need an Extraction?
When faced with tooth damage or decay, the preferred solution is to restore the affected tooth. This may be done with treatments such as fillings, inlays or onlays, or crowns. Sometimes, a root canal may be needed to eliminate an infection, which is then followed by the placement of a crown. If the damage is too severe, however, the tooth may be beyond saving, resulting in the need for a tooth extraction. You might need an extraction if:
- You have cracks extending below the gum line.
- You have fractures in your teeth entirely below the gum line.
- You have teeth that have split or shattered completely.
- You have a tooth that is severely decayed and cannot be saved with a filling or a crown.
In some cases, extractions may be required even though your teeth are not damaged. These situations include:
- Overcrowding. Teeth may need to be extracted before orthodontic treatment is performed.
- Impacted wisdom teeth.
Extracting Your Teeth
There are two types of extractions, simple and surgical. Simple extractions are quite simple and straightforward. In more complex cases, however, a surgical extraction is required through oral surgery. This type of extraction is done under a local anesthetic and sedation. Incisions in your gums provide us with access to the roots of the affected teeth and the surrounding bone. We work to carefully and completely remove the affected teeth. This might require removing small amounts of bone or breaking the tooth and removing it in sections. Once your affected teeth have been removed, the sockets are cleaned, and your surgical incisions are sutured closed.
What Happens After the Extraction?
Before you leave the office after your tooth extractions, you will be provided with aftercare instructions. These instructions will help you to deal with postsurgical issues like pain and swelling. They will provide information on what to eat, what to avoid doing, and how to take care of your mouth while you heal. Following these instructions is important for ensuring that you heal properly and that there are no complications. Once you have fully healed from your extractions, your extracted teeth can then be replaced.
While restoring damaged teeth is always preferred, it is not always possible. For more information, and to find out if you need a tooth extraction, contact Henderson Oral Surgery today at (702) 270-2999.
