When Must Teeth Be Removed?
Dr. Victoria Kushensky, your family dentist in Bronx, NY, always strives to save your natural teeth. No matter what kind of restorative dental work you get, few false teeth feel as good or function as well as your real teeth. But it’s not always possible to save every tooth. When tooth removal becomes necessary, either to save your other teeth or protect your overall health, rely on the painless dentistry techniques available at Hutchinson Metro Dental.
Good daily hygiene and regular checkups at your Bronx, NY dental office help you save your natural teeth. But if you haven’t kept up with either practice, Dr. Kushensky may need to pull a tooth to stop the pain.
Common conditions that may require a planned or emergency tooth extraction include:
- Tooth decay. Untreated, tooth decay can eventually lead to a necessary tooth extraction.
- Periodontal disease. Gum disease causes jaw weakness that eventually leads to tooth loss.
- Tooth infection. When the pulp inside a tooth becomes infected, the rest of the tooth can often be saved with a root canal. But if the infection is too severe, the tooth may need to be pulled.
- Injury. An accident or sports injury may cause a broken tooth that can’t be fixed. A chip, crack or fracture is often treatable with bonding or a crown.
- Grinding. If you’ve been grinding or clenching your teeth for a long time, you can cause permanent damage. If the root of a tooth is compromised, it’s often best to remove the tooth and get a tooth replacement.
- Tooth extraction infection may follow root canal therapy when infected material remains in your tooth. A cheap tooth extraction may lead to more expensive treatments if not properly addressed. Rely on the expertise of Dr. Kushensky, your family dentist at Hutchinson Metro Dental to prevent these issues.
The pressure and pain from an injured or infected tooth can stop you from eating, drinking, speaking and swallowing. The discomfort may even interrupt your sleep and make concentrating on daily activities difficult.
The Procedure for a Tooth Extraction
The process of pulling a tooth depends on how the tooth is compromised and where in your mouth the tooth is located. Some tooth extractions can happen quickly and easily while others may require surgical intervention.
The normal process follows a set of steps:
- Roger Lerner, your Bronx, NY dentist, begins with a thorough dental examination, possibly including a full set of x-rays and a complete medical history. You discuss your symptoms and cosmetic concerns.
- Before the procedure, you must inform your dentist about any medical conditions you have and any medications you take.
- Occasionally, Dr. Kushensky prescribes antibiotics before your tooth removal to address any infection concerns. He also may provide pain relief medication in the interim.
- When you’re ready for the tooth extraction in Bronx, NY, your family dentist administers an anesthetic to relieve any discomfort. Tooth removal is usually finished quickly and you may opt for just topical numbing. But if you have anxiety or Dr. Kushensky suspects the tooth extraction may be more involved, heavier sedation is available at Hutchinson Metro Dental.
- In a normal case, enough of the crown remains for your dentist to grab onto. If he determines the extraction won’t fracture the tooth, he grasps the tooth with special dental forceps and rocks the tooth back and forth to loosen it. Other instruments may be used to separate the connective tissue. He then pulls out the tooth with the forceps.
- If there isn’t enough tooth above the gum line or if he has to extract multiple teeth, surgery may be required. Impacted wisdom teeth usually need to be removed this way. Your dentist makes incisions in your gums to access the teeth and breaks apart the root to remove it. He then sutures the gums closed.
The Next Steps after Your Teeth Extractions
Pulling teeth is rarely the first option to protect your dental health. But when it’s called for, rely on a dental team that takes care of your safety and health. Because your family dentist in Bronx, NY also is a cosmetic dentist, you have restorative options for tooth replacement after your tooth removal.
To fill in the gaps, you may be eligible for a dental bridge, dentures or implants including:
- Mini dental implants
- A single tooth implant
- Full-mouth implants
- Denture implants
- All-on-Four implants
- All-on-Six implants
No one wants to have a tooth extracted, but if that’s what you need, delaying only causes more pain and complications. Contact the Bronx, NY experts in tooth extractions and restorative dentistry at Hutchinson Metro Dental.
