A tooth extraction refers to the procedure of removing a tooth from its socket. Before we start it’s important that you notify your dentist of your medical condition such as whether you have any artificial joints, diabetes, or a history of heart and valve conditions. You should also inform your dentist of any medications you are currently or have previously taken, such as Redux, Phen-Fen blood thinners, or importantly medications that contain bisphosphonates like Fosamax. Here is how an extraction is done first, the local anesthetic is applied to make the procedure more comfortable, in some cases your dentist will elect to use nitrous oxide gas, in addition to the anesthetic once the area is numb, the extraction begins.
A dental instrument called an elevator is used to wiggle the tooth in its socket after the tooth is loose and it is removed using forceps or in some more complicated cases a surgical handpiece is also used to assist with the removal of the tooth. Like most other procedures tooth extractions are not free of possible complications, you should be aware that there is a slight chance of infection, tenderness, prolonged bleeding, dry socket, and loosening of neighboring teeth or their fillings or crowns. Another rare possibility, is a tooth being displaced into the sinus during an extraction of an upper tooth Lastly, jaw fracture is also a very rare possibility, you need to be aware of the importance of replacing this missing tooth, why? Once a tooth is removed, the space created by the missing tooth will allow the surrounding teeth to shift into that space, this shift could cause a misalignment in your mouth that can result in chewing or jaw joint problems.
Shifting teeth are harder to clean, making them more susceptible to gum disease, decay, or even additional tooth loss. For these reasons, it’s important to replace the tooth with a dental appliance such as a bridge, a removable partial denture, or an implant. In some instances, you may be considering the option of pulling a tooth rather than simply repairing it, while it may be less expensive in the short run, in the long run, it may cost you more as you just heard once a tooth is pulled you still need to fill the space with the dental appliance. To avoid future complications if you add the cost of extraction plus the replacement of the tooth you may simply be better off repairing it, please be sure to ask your dentist for proper home care and postoperative instruction care.