Common Myths About Tooth Extractions you Should Know

A tooth extraction is an invasive procedure involving removing a tooth from its socket. However, extracting one or more teeth might affect the development and health of your smile. Even though many people have extracted their teeth, most individuals don’t understand tooth extraction fully.

It’s essential to understand this procedure properly if you’ll be undergoing it. This article helps you understand some of the myths about tooth extraction.

Wisdom Teeth are Extracted Only

Many individuals believe that only wisdom teeth are extracted. However, any other tooth in your mouth can be removed in addition to the extraction of wisdom teeth. A person might need a tooth extraction for a few reasons.

For example, your dentist in Smile up NYC might recommend the removal of a severely damaged tooth due to an injury, accident, or tooth decay. Even though a root canal can treat the damaged tooth, this treatment is not always effective in saving the tooth. Therefore your tooth might need to be extracted to stop the pain and infection.

The other reason to get tooth extraction in New York, NY, is when there are struggles with tooth eruption. Here your tooth might be impacted in your gum tissue and cause enormous pain and pressure. When the tooth is extracted, it will stop discomfort and pressure.

Also, your teeth might be extracted before getting orthodontic treatment. If your mouth is too crowded, it may cause shifting teeth pushing on adjacent teeth and underlying bite. This issue will cause crossbites, underbites, and overbites, requiring orthodontic treatment.

Extractions are Painful

People believe that tooth extractions are painful, which a myth is. Although a person might feel a little pressure during the procedure, tooth extractions don’t cause pain.

Depending on the type of tooth extraction undergone, the pediatric dentist near you uses an anesthetic to numb the extraction site.

Before the extraction, the dentist injects a local anesthetic into your mouth to numb the gum tissue and the teeth. One feels a slight prick of the injection but no actual pain.

Once the mouth is numb, the dentist will loosen the tooth using special tools and then remove it using forceps. You will feel pressure when the dentist pulls the tooth from its socket.

If you need a surgical extraction, intravenous anesthesia or local anesthesia will be used to numb the area and make your body and mind relaxed so you don’t feel any anxiety.

Your dentist will then make small incisions into the gum tissue to extract the tooth. You might sleep and be unaware of the tooth extraction. After the extraction, you will experience slight discomfort and light swelling of the jaw and mouth.

It’s not Necessary to Replace an Extracted Tooth

Many individuals believe that one doesn’t need to feel a space left in their mouth after tooth extraction. Unfortunately, it can lead to other dental complications if you don’t replace an extracted tooth. Their neighboring teeth will shift and move to the space of the extraction. The shifting can lead to misaligned bites and crooked teeth, affecting your smile.

It’s also good to replace your extracted tip because it helps support your jawbone. When you don’t replace your missing teeth, the jaw bone will not stimulate, which might cause bone deterioration. This will affect your smile, physical appearance, and ability to speak and chew correctly.

Recovering from an Extraction Takes Long Process

This is also a myth. Even though studies say that it takes 1-2 weeks for the socket to heal after extraction, most people only feel discomfort and pain for a few days after the procedure. If you follow the aftercare instructions that a pediatric dentist in Upper East Side provides, you will recover quickly and return to normal activities.

Extracting a Damaged or Infected Tooth is Always the Best Option

Many people think that the best idea is to remove a damaged or infected tooth rather than save it.

However, this is not the case. The best idea is always to try to save the tooth. A root canal treatment or a dental crown is recommended for an infected or damaged tooth. Try preserving your remaining tooth as much as possible.