A persistent toothache can be a result of an infected tooth. If there is no other remedy for the toothache, the dentist might recommend removal.
Losing a tooth is not what anyone would want. However, sometimes there might be no other solution to your dental problem. Therefore, your dentist will recommend tooth extraction as the last option.
A persistent toothache cause discomfort, preventing you from sleeping, and sometimes carrying out your daily activities. A toothache can be a result of several causes. Therefore, you should consider visiting your dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of Toothache
Some of the possible causes of a toothache include:
- Tooth decay
- Dental abscess
- Broken tooth
- Damaged tooth restoration
- Erupting tooth
- Infected gums
- Wear and tear of a tooth due to repetitive motions
- Infected root canal
Symptoms of Toothache
When you have a toothache, you might experience the following:
- Persistent, sharp, and throbbing pain on your tooth or jaw
- Swelled gums or cheeks around the tooth
- Headache and fever
- Mouth odor or foul taste if you have an infected tooth
In case you experience difficulties swallowing or breathing, especially due to a toothache, you should consider calling a dentist right away for treatments.
Extracting a Tooth to Manage Toothache
Depending on the causes of toothache, there are many treatment options. Your dentist will only recommend tooth removal if the is no other solution. Therefore, your dentist will recommend tooth removal if the tooth infection has spread to the jawbone or it is badly decayed. Also, the dentist can consider tooth extraction if your tooth is broken and not fit for a dental crown.
Preparation
Before proceeding to have your tooth removed, you should consult the dentist to make sure it is the best option for you. Next, the dentist will take a digital x-ray of the tooth to check the extent of the damage.
Since tooth removal is a surgical procedure, your dentist might ask you some questions to help develop your treatment plan, preventing complications. To develop the treatment plan, the dentist will review your medical history and ask you about any treatment or medications you are receiving.
Some medications, such as an intravenous bisphosphonate, can increase the risk of bone death during the tooth extraction procedure. Therefore, your dentist in Seminole will recommend a tooth extraction before the bisphosphonate treatment. At our dental clinic, Dr. Sausha Toghranegar will ensure all health conditions are stable before the procedure.
Procedure
Depending on whether the teeth are visible or impacted, tooth extractions can either be simple or surgical.
During a simple tooth extraction procedure, your dentist will first administer local anesthesia to numb the area around your damaged tooth. Next, the dentist will use a tool known as an elevator to loosen the tooth before using forceps to pull it out.
If you need a surgical tooth extraction, your dentist will administer local or general anesthesia, depending on the length of the procedure. The dentist will then cut incisions on your gum and remove the bone around to remove the tooth and eliminate any signs of pain-causing infection.
The dentist will then remove all pieces of bone on the socket. If there is an infection within the socket, the dentist might recommend some medications to eliminate it. In case you are bleeding, the dentist might place gauze on the socket and ask you to bite it down, reducing blood flow and encouraging clotting.
Recovery and Results
After the tooth removal procedure, you might experience little pain when you bite down on the socket. However, you will not experience any more toothaches since the cause of pain is eliminated after extracting the tooth.
The recovery period is between two days and a week. However, it depends on how you take care of the socket. Therefore, at Dental Arts Seminole, we recommend you avoid disturbing the wound, smoking, or sucking hard on fluids to encourage recovery.
Benefits of Getting a Tooth Extraction
Apart from treating a toothache, tooth extractions have several benefits. Some of the merits of getting a tooth extraction include:
- By removing some teeth if you have crowded ones, you can improve your bite and smile aesthetics
- Tooth removal can help prevent the spread of tooth decay or infections
- Preserves your gums and jawbone by preventing the spread of infections
- Prevents complications caused by impacted wisdom teeth
If you are planning on getting a tooth extraction, you can consider the benefits and side effects after talking to your dentist first.
