Tooth Extraction
Should you get a Tooth Extraction? When?
We come across the question frequently, from patients about whether they should get a problem tooth extracted or should they instead try and restore the tooth. We understand that nobody wants a tooth pulled out but in some cases its the best and safest option to prevent pain and prevent further damage to other teeth and gums. With experience and training at Aurora Family Dentistry, we follow methods for teeth extraction that are simple, safe, comfortable and as pain-free as possible.
Generally, our first recommendation would be that we should explore the option of restoration using root canal therapy or using a dental crown or veneer or some other method. We believe that every professional dentist will take every action needed to take care of your teeth, to help restore them, and to protect them before they ever recommend an extraction.
However, there are instances when a tooth is broken, or the infection in the tooth has spread or in the case of an impacted wisdom tooth, these are some of those instances when the extraction is an ideal solution to problems such as the impaction of wisdom teeth or exceedingly serious tooth infections. Those are the kind of situations when our recommendation reluctantly has to be that an extraction may be the best solution for the patient.
In this article, we are going to explain when dental extractions might be the best option with one of our dentists at Aurora Family Dentistry in Aurora ON.
At our office in Aurora ON, we treat patients who need extraction of a tooth or of impacted wisdom teeth with expertise and experience. We are conveniently located at the South-East corner of Bayview Ave. and St. John’s Side Road in Aurora. If you feel that you may need an extraction, call us to schedule an appointment to have one of our experienced dentists take a look at the tooth and advise you on action that might help you retain the tooth or if you need to have the extraction to prevent other problems from building up due to the damaged tooth.
When might you need a tooth extraction?
Generally speaking, tooth extraction is a minor procedure for an experienced dentist. The issue of the ease of extraction depends upon the location of the tooth in question.
A tooth in the front of the mouth is easier to extract because it has a straight root. On the other hand, a molar is located at the back of the mouth and has a network of roots. This makes the extraction of the molar a more difficult process.
For the dentists at Aurora Family Dentistry, the most common type of dental extraction is that of the wisdom teeth. Which is in fact the most difficult tooth extraction. More on this later in the article.
Some common reasons for a tooth extraction
– A broken or damaged tooth – this could be from a sport or other accident.
– A fractured tooth – these are teeth where root canal or other treatments haven’t helped and a fractured tooth may be best extracted.
– Deep Decay – this is generally the most common reason for teeth extraction. This happens when the decay has affected both the tooth and its pulp making a root canal treatment unviable.
– Periodontal disease – Gum disease causes the gums and underlying bone to be eroded such that it can’t hold the tooth or teeth anymore.
– An impacted wisdom tooth – this could be one of the following situations. The molar is growing at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar) or at an angle toward the back of the mouth or growing at a right angle to the other teeth as if the wisdom tooth is “lying down” within the jawbone
– Extra teeth – These are generally stubborn baby teeth. These take up space on the arch causing nearby teeth to twist out of place.
– Prior to braces – this is typically an extraction done to create space in an Overcrowded mouth
A damaged tooth from an Accident
Accidents that are sports-related or other accidents can create an emergency where a tooth extraction might be urgently needed.
For severe hurt or other emergencies, we always recommend that the patient go to the ER first, ensure that they are stabilized and then visit their dentist once they are past any dangerous situation that they may find themselves in.
Even in the case of emergencies, we will evaluate if a restoration of the tooth using root canal treatment, or dental crowns or veneers is possible? If not then we will perform the extraction of the affected tooth or teeth.
A severe dental infection
We always stand by the adage that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments will ensure that your dentist spots a problem and nips it in the bud.
However, if you have a bad dental infection, regardless of whether or not it is severely painful you should visit your dentist at the earliest. This infection can quickly create extreme discomfort and make it difficult to bite or chew.
Equally, if you have a toothache then you should try and visit your dental office at the earliest. At Aurora Family Dentistry we always try and make room in our schedules for any emergencies. We will try and ensure that you are treated quickly and we will do our best to get to the source of the problem and cure that. That solution may be a tooth extraction if other options are not likely viable.
You have impacted wisdom teeth
One major reason for the extraction of teeth is wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth can begin to cause serious discomfort when they grow in impacted. The very growth of these wisdom teeth can cause discomfort when in their impacted position or sideways growth they push other teeth forward. It is easy for food particles to get trapped and the area around the wisdom teeth can become infected.
For a child or young adult who wears braces or has had braces, impacted wisdom teeth can be particularly troublesome.
Our dentists are trained and experienced in the extraction of wisdom teeth. If you are in the Aurora and Newmarket area and you feel that you have discomfort in your wisdom teeth area set up an appointment with our dentists. The safe extraction of your wisdom teeth could well be the best solution.
Our dentists can complete the wisdom tooth extraction quickly and gently. As a family dentist, our focus is always on the comfort of our patients.
We are your “dentist near me” in Aurora ON to complete an extraction. As regards managing tooth extraction pain, we offer Nitrous gas sedation which makes the process of tooth extraction relatively pain-free. We don’t wish to promise that any extraction is completely painless but with skill and adequate sedation, our experienced dentists will ensure that any pain is minimized as much as possible.
How Do We Extract Teeth
The Simple Extraction
This extraction is the ideal simple and painless extraction. Your dentist will create room by gently wiggling the tooth, and then will carefully pull it out.
After the application of anesthesia, special tools are inserted between the tooth and gum surrounding the tooth. The tooth is moved back and forth within its socket until the tooth separates from the ligament that holds the tooth in place.
For this option to be available the tooth being extracted generally has to be an incisor or a canine or any tooth generally in the front of the mouth.
The Complex or Surgical Extraction
As a family dental office in Aurora ON, while the extraction of impacted teeth is a regular process for us, it is nonetheless a complex process. Extracting an impacted tooth needs advance planning by a dentist. The tooth extraction may involve the need to cut open the gum tissue surrounding the tooth, to create room to fully access the tooth.
In other instances, the tooth may need to be cut or sectioned as that may be the only method to extract the tooth.
The method for removing an impacted tooth will depend on how many roots it has, and the location of the roots under the gum.
The last part of the planning is the post-surgery process this involves cleaning the areas, replacing the gum flap, suturing it, and protecting it with gauze. Care would need to be taken to keep the extraction area clear clean, to prevent any secondary infection.
Only general dentists who have had special training can expertly carry out a surgical extraction. Of course, all Oral Surgeons are eminently qualified to do this process.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
The third molars are called wisdom teeth. These are the last set of permanent teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth and these are little needed. Wisdom teeth can often be the cause of stress upon your dental health if they have for instance erupted through your gum but the space in your jaw is too small to accommodate them.
Or the wisdom teeth may come out straight but given less space in the jaw, they crowd the roots of the other teeth pushing them out of alignment.
The result of any of these conditions could be a misalignment of the bite, general discomfort or pain, and swelling, damage to nearby teeth, nerves, jawbone or sinuses.
Symptom-free wisdom teeth could still harbor disease. If there isn’t enough space for the tooth to erupt, it’s often hard to get to it and clean it properly.
Given these serious issues and the potential for periodontal disease, extraction or removal of the wisdom teeth is generally the best option. In fact, with the objective of preventing potential future problems, some dentists recommend wisdom tooth extraction even if impacted teeth aren’t currently causing problems.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Soreness, swelling, and discomfort after extraction are to be expected. This could last for a few days. This will generally be treated with over the counter medication like Tylenol and Advil.
Placing a cold compress or icepack on your face in the area where the tooth was extracted will also help. This needs to be done with reasonable care. We recommend the icepack placement be done in 10 to 15-minute cycles with some time gap in between.
What To Eat After Tooth Extraction
For food, we would recommend food that’s easy to chew. Yogurt, applesauce, and soft rice pudding would be some excellent options. Solids can gradually be added back into your diet. Care needs to be taken about eating semi-solid food until the area of tooth extraction has healed completely.
Options after tooth extraction
After about 6 months of a tooth extraction, the bone will begin to recess if a dental implant isn’t put in place. Speak with a dentist at Aurora Family Dentistry about your options and the recommended further course of action.
Tooth Extraction Cost
The question of the cost of saving a tooth does come up sometimes. We follow the Ontario fee guide for dentists. We accept most insurance plans, and we also have a third-party financing option available with DentalCard which can provide convenient payment plan options. This approval is generally a quick process but it will need for you to independently qualify with Dentalcard. We try and help our patients find an economical solution where possible so that budgetary reasons do not prevent a person from taking the treatment options recommended by their dentist.
The cost of tooth extraction in Ontario can vary based on whether the extraction is a simple extraction or whether its a surgical extraction. Tooth extraction cost can also vary based on whether the process needs local anesthesia or whether it additionally needs Nitrous oxide. In the case of wisdom teeth extraction, it will also depend upon the number of teeth that need to be extracted. All in all this cost can range from $200 to $2000.
You should speak with a dentist at Aurora Family Dentistry to understand what kind of extraction you need and its attendant costs.
More Questions?
If you have any further questions about tooth extraction or to find out if you need a tooth extraction, get in touch with us or just call us in Aurora ON on 905-751-0009 to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists. We will be happy to answer any questions you have and advise you about what course of treatment might be the best for you.
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