Extractions
Emergency Dental Extractions
Adult teeth are supposed to last for your entire life, but things don’t always work out that way. If you have a tooth that’s decayed and damaged beyond repair, you may need an emergency tooth extraction, especially if it’s causing you a significant amount of pain. In some instances, teeth can be repaired with crowns or fillings, but when that isn’t an option, an emergency tooth extraction might be the best course of action.
Dental Extractions in Centreville, VA
There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth has misshapen or long roots that prevent it from falling out as it should, and the tooth must be removed to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt. At other times, a tooth may have so much decay that it puts the surrounding teeth at risk of decay, so your doctor may recommend removal and replacement with a bridge or implant. Infection, orthodontic correction, or problems with a wisdom tooth can also require removal of a tooth.
When it is determined that a tooth needs to be removed, your dentist may extract the tooth during a regular checkup or may request another visit for this procedure. The root of each tooth is encased within your jawbone in a “tooth socket,” and your tooth is held in that socket by a ligament. In order to extract a tooth, your dentist must expand the socket and separate the tooth from the ligament holding it in place. While this procedure is typically very quick, it is important to share with your doctor any concerns or preferences for sedation.
Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift, causing problems with chewing or with your jaw joint function. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth.
What causes you to need emergency tooth extractions?
There are lots of things that can cause an emergency tooth extraction, including:
- Severe tooth decay, technically known as caries
- Gum disease
- An abscess on your gums or around your teeth
- Impacted wisdom teeth (when the wisdom tooth is unable to break the surface of your gums and gets stuck)
- Trauma to your jaw
- Root fractures or cracks
- Crowded teeth (when there are too many teeth to fit in your mouth or your teeth are too large to fit)
- A broken tooth which is impossible to repair
If one of your teeth is increasing your risk of infection, that tooth may need to be removed, not just because it’s a danger itself, but because it increases the risk for the teeth around it.