Your dentist may recommend that you pull out a tooth. This may be confusing for adults since this is a common procedure for children and teenagers. The following article seeks to help you understand the procedure for adult tooth extraction and why it is necessary.

Reasons for Tooth Removal

If your tooth has been damaged by decay or trauma, it is difficult to repair and the only way to stop the pain and spread of the bacterial infection is removal.

Crowded Mouth: The dentist might at times extract your teeth to prepare your mouth for a procedure called orthodontia. This procedure is used to align your teeth properly. Your dentist cannot carry out this treatment if your teeth cannot break through your gum since there is no room in your mouth for it. This procedure is also not possible if your mouth is too small for your big teeth. This is why your dentist will recommend tooth removal before orthodontia.

Infection:  Pulp is the centre of your tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. If damage to your tooth such as tooth decay extends to your pulp, bacteria in your mouth may enter your pulp and cause infection. Severe infection that cannot be cured through root canal therapy or antibiotics will require your tooth to be removed to stop infection from spreading.

Risk of Infection: If you are going through chemotherapy or organ transplant, the slightest risk of infection on a particular tooth will be the basis for tooth removal.

Gum Disease: If you have periodontal disease—a disease that affects the bones and tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth- this infection could cause you to have loose teeth making it necessary to pull of your tooth or teeth.

What should I Expect with Tooth Removal

Before the dentist pulls of your tooth or teeth, they will administer anaesthesia—an injection that numbs your nerves and the tooth so that you do not feel pain during the procedure.

If your tooth is impacted, your dentist will cut your gum and bone tissue covering the tooth and with the aid of forceps, they will loosen the tooth from your ligaments and jawbone. Hard to pull teeth are removed in pieces.

What to Tell the Doctor Before Tooth Removal

Tooth removal may at times allow harmful bacteria to penetrate into the bloodstream. It could also cause your gum tissue to be infected. If you are suffering from a condition that would cause you to develop severe infection, your dentist could give you antibiotics before the extraction. Before your tooth is extracted you should inform your dentist about your medical history and the medications you are taking.  You should also inform your dentist if you have any of the following conditions:

• Congenital heart defect
• Liver disease
• Impaired immune system
• An artificial joint like a hip replacement
• Bacterial endocarditis

For more information, contact a dental office like Creative Dentistry.