Nervous About Your Dental Extraction? What to Know

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Dental extractions happen for many reasons, but often because the tooth is damaged and cannot be repaired. Cavities, infection, and teeth enamel cracks are all reasons your dentist in Morristown, TN, may choose to extract a tooth. Some people get nervous about tooth extraction, but having more information can help.

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction is a procedure the dentist will perform to remove a tooth fully from its socket.

How Are Dental Extractions Performed?

When it’s time to perform your tooth extraction, the dentist will give you some sedation (like nitrous oxide) and numb the area around the tooth. Then, the dentist will use an instrument to loosen the tooth and pull it out. Finally, the dentist will clean the area where the tooth used to be and use stitches to close the area up.

Do Dental Extractions Hurt?

Dental extractions don’t hurt during the procedure because the area is numbed, and you’re given sedation. However, you may feel some discomfort after the procedure.

What Happens When the Extraction Is Over?

When the extraction is over, your dentist will give instructions for keeping the site clean with an antimicrobial wash. You should also take it easy for a few days while the area heals.

You may experience light bleeding, but talk to your dentist if you experience heavy bleeding. Your dentist will recommend some over-the-counter pain medication that you can take to manage any discomfort.

After the area has healed for a few months, you may be able to install a dental implant or a bridge to keep your smile whole. If this interests you, talk to your dentist.

Have questions about dental extraction in Morristown, TN? Call your dentist at Simple Dental today.

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What Happens After a Tooth Extraction?  

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You may think your dental problems end after your dentist in Morristown, TN, extracts your troublesome tooth. However, there’s more work to be done. While this will likely ease the pain of toothache, your dentist can’t just leave the empty tooth socket behind. Doing so can contribute to bone loss and additional dental issues in the future. For these reasons, partial dentures, a bridge, or a dental implant is usually the solution.

Why Should I Have Partial Dentures, a Bridge, or a Dental Implant?

Your body is a carefully mechanized piece of machinery, and it can break down if a cog goes missing — in this instance your adult tooth. Because the pressure of biting and chewing is part of what keeps your gums and jawbone healthy, leaving behind an empty space where a tooth once was may contribute to bone loss. If bone loss happens, the jawbone beneath the extracted tooth begins to recede, causing more problems as time goes by.

A dental implant, bridge, or denture, however, replaces that missing tooth. Because it looks and functions just like the one your dentist pulled, it tricks your body into believing your natural tooth is still in place. Your gums and jawbone stay healthy, and you don’t have to worry about developing major dental problems later on.

Which Option Is Better for Me?

Only you and your dentist can decide whether a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture is the best choice for you. Of the three, the dental implant procedure involves the most effort. You’ll have to return several times to complete the process, but you’ll be left with a permanent replacement tooth that requires no removal for cleaning or sleeping. A fixed bridge is another sound solution for tooth replacement because it’s permanently affixed to your surrounding teeth. Lastly, partial dentures may be immediate, but they do require more care. Talk with your dentist today if you have questions regarding what happens after your tooth extraction in Morristown, TN.