A tooth extraction may become necessary for a variety of different reasons. Your tooth may be infected or damaged, or you may need your wisdom teeth removed before they cause serious problems. How can you tell if your tooth needs to be extracted? Dr. Brad Gorsky of Manhattan, NY explains.
Tooth Extraction is A Last Resort
In many cases, tooth extraction is a last resort. Dr. Gorsky takes care to make sure to provide the most conservative treatment for your dental problems as he wants to save as much of your natural tooth as possible. If conservative methods have failed or he doesn’t believe that they will be effective, that’s when a tooth extraction will be recommended.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are many reasons a tooth may need to be removed. If you’re experiencing severe tooth decay or have a tooth that’s been extremely damaged from trauma, the tooth may need to be removed. Teeth are also extracted when your smile is overcrowded and potentially causing problems with your day-to-day life.
Sometimes teeth are removed to help treat malocclusion. This is when your bite lines up abnormally. Malocclusion can be the root of many oral health problems, particularly TMJ disorders. An even bite that meets properly helps to even out the pressure on your teeth when they close together. This lessens the chance of broken or cracked teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth typically emerge in your late teens or early twenties. It’s more likely than not to need your wisdom teeth removed. Very few people are able to keep their wisdom teeth throughout their lifetime without any issues. Wisdom teeth can cause pain, overcrowding in the teeth, and can be more likely to suffer from tooth decay as they’re harder to reach.
Wisdom teeth can also get impacted in your jaw. This means that it’s at an odd angle and is stuck mostly under the gums, causing problems with your other teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually all removed at the same time through an oral surgery with sedation.
The Extraction Process
For a simple tooth extraction, you’ll first receive local anesthetic around the tooth that’s due to be removed. If you suffer from dental phobia, we offer sedation dentistry options to help keep you calm and comfortable throughout the process.
Once you’re properly numb, the ligaments that connect the tooth to your bone will be slowly severed. The tooth is gently rocked back and forth in the socket to remove the actual tooth. When the tooth is out, the entire area will be cleaned and packed with gauze. This helps a blood clot to form in the cavity and also helps to keep out food particles and other hazards. You’ll receive aftercare instructions to make sure it heals well.
Tooth Extraction in Manhattan, NY
Have a tooth that may need to be removed? Dr. Gorsky is a skilled dentist practicing in midtown Manhattan and Larchmont. Visit our new Larchmont dentist office! For a dental exam with Dr. Gorsky, please call 212-235-1769 or request an appointment online today!