Category: Tooth Extraction

3 Myths You Might Have Heard About Wisdom Teeth

wisdom-tooth

The human body is a wonderland. Our mouths change constantly throughout our lives. Among the most famous dental milestones that a person comes across is the occurrence of wisdom teeth, or third molars, between the ages 17 and 25. A lot of people generally advise getting the wisdom teeth removed because they may cause complications later. Dentists perform approximately 10 million wisdom teeth surgeries from around 5 million across the U.S. annually. The process of wisdom teeth extraction is simple. However, not everyone needs to get their wisdom teeth removed if they are stable and properly aligned.

If you are at an age where you are expecting the day when you will wake up with a slight pain of a wisdom tooth popping up, then read on. There is a lot of misinformation that your well-meaning friends and family can give you regarding wisdom teeth and it can certainly get overwhelming. The four most common myths surrounding myths about wisdom teeth that you should ignorecompletely are as follows:

  1. Every person has wisdom teeth:Not everyone has wisdom teeth because their wisdom teeth never erupt from beneath their gums. Some individuals might have one or two wisdom teeth instead of all four while others have none. According to dentists for tooth extraction in Carthage, NY, both these situations are normal until there are other underlying dental issues to worry about.
  2. You always know if you have them:This is not true at all. Any dentist will you that your soft tissues or jawbone can enclose the third molars, which might not make them visible. Thus, getting an X-ray of your teeth and gums from a dentist near you can help you in being sure if you have any wisdom tooth beneath the gums or not. Furthermore, the dental X-ray will also reveal if you will face any issues during the development of the wisdom teeth.
  3. No purpose teeth:This statement is false. Wisdom teeth, just like other teeth, help us in chewing. It is believed that ancient humans needed wisdom teeth because of their diet consisting of roots, coarse animal meat, all of which required a lot of chewing efforts on their part.

Thus, instead of just believing all the information you come across regarding wisdom teeth that might not be true, it is better to consult a dental professional. At Long Falls Dentistry, we have the best dentists that have years of experience in wisdom tooth extraction in Carthage, NY.

Know everything you wanted to about tooth extractions

tooth extraction service

What is tooth extraction? 

Tooth extraction is the process of removing a damaged or infected tooth, by uprooting it from the gums.

Does tooth extraction hurt? 

The procedure of tooth extraction does not hurt at all, as you’d be anesthetized. There would be some residual pain from the extraction. However, that pain is absolutely tolerable and Ibuprofen would be more than enough for you to deal with it.

Why would I need a tooth extraction? 

Wisdom tooth removal is the most common form of tooth extraction. You may get a wisdom tooth, and like 5 million people in the U.S, decide to remove it.

You may even have an infected or a decayed tooth, which is so severe that a filling or sealant would not be enough to get rid of it.

You may have a misaligned tooth that puts a flaw on your smile, and you may decide to get that tooth removed and replaced.

You may have a broken, chipped or damaged tooth that doesn’t look good when you smile. In that case too, you may want to remove it and get it replaced.

What is the procedure for a tooth extraction? 

  • You will be given a local or general anesthesia to ease you during the tooth extraction procedure. The strength of the anesthetic depends on your comfort levels.
  • Next, the infected or damaged tooth will be extracted with the help of pliers. These pliers grab on to your tooth and gently stroke it to and fro, to loosen the root from the gums and bone. If the tooth is too hard to remove, some surrounding gum tissues may be removed to ease the extraction. If the tooth still cannot be removed, it would be removed in pieces.
  • The cuts resulting from the extraction would be stitched with dissolving stitches. A blot clot forms in the socket after the extraction, to cover which, the dentist would apply a gauze pad over it and ask you to bite it gently. Bite too hard, and the clot would break, leading to a painful condition called ‘dry socket’!

How many appointments does it require to get a tooth extracted?

Usually, tooth extractions require only a single visit. Only in some complex situations like multiple teeth extractions, you would need to visit the dentist more than once for the purpose.

What options do I have to replace my tooth?

After tooth extraction, you may consider the following alternatives to your natural tooth:

  • Implants
  • Crowns
  • Bridges
  • Partial dentures(if you’ve extracted numerous teeth).

Could I replace my tooth with my original tooth?

In some instances, it is indeed possible. For example, if you have a misaligned tooth, you may get it extracted and have it placed in the same socket in an aligned manner, provided that the tooth is healthy. However, there is no purpose in replacing a broken or infected tooth with itself!

Just a bad tooth may not require a tooth extraction at all. Consult with your dentist about a dental problem that you’ve been experiencing, to find out if you really need one!

Signs That Indicate Your Tooth Needs to Be Pulled Out

Your teeth can get highly affected if you do not take care of your oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing are definitely two of the essential things, but along with that, you must also follow certain measures. A damaged tooth leads to innumerable discomforts and can cause some serious dental issues if not treated or extracted on time.

There could be several reasons behind a surgical tooth extraction and we have elucidated some of them in this write-up. Take a look at them below.

Crowded and Impacted Teeth: Both crowded and impacted teeth hinder the eruption of other teeth due to which they are often extracted. The former takes place if your jaw is small for your teeth or due to a cleft lip while the latter can emerge if the permanent tooth does not get enough space to erupt.

When the Tooth is Extensively Decayed: It is not always necessary to get a decayed tooth extracted as it can be treated in several ways. But, a surgical extraction might be done if the condition is quite serious. The state of the tooth could get severe if the infection spreads to its pulp.

When a Chipped or a Broken Tooth is Not Treated on Time: A tooth that is broken or chipped can be fixed with the help of quite a few dental treatments. But, your dentist might ask you to get it extracted if it is not treated on time. A chipped tooth takes place when you use it as a tool or bite on a hard food item, it can also get damaged while playing a sport or during an accident.

When You Go Through Severe Periodontitis: There could be a need for surgical extraction if the gum disease reaches almost its last stage. Extracting the affected tooth can prevent the infection from spreading and stop additional tooth loss. However, it is also important to get the periodontitis treated to save the remaining teeth.

We at Long Falls Dentistry do our best to treat our patient’s oral problems. Call us today 315-497-6316 if you are going through any kind of dental issue. We also give free consultations on oral health. Our dental office is situated at 40 Franklin St #3, Carthage, NY 13619.

Don’t Get Baffled After a Tooth Extraction, 5 Measures for a Quick Recovery

A tooth extraction session could be troublesome for a lot of you but the relief that you get after the completion of the procedure is nothing short of great. However, you may not experience the comfort immediately after the surgery and it is essential to follow certain measures during that time period.

There could be an emergence of tooth sensitivity or some other discomfort due to which you need to be extra cautious after the extraction. If you are about to go through a surgery, then do consider the points which are listed in this write-up.

Be Careful with the Sutures While Brushing: We make sure that the bristles reach everywhere possible when we brush but this theory might not work after a tooth extraction surgery. First of all, do not brush with all your force and also avoid the sutures because it could bleed if the stitches are disturbed. And another dental issue might arise if this takes place.

Use Ice Packs to Diminish Swelling or Pain: A pain may emerge around the gum area after the surgery but do not fret if that happens. Take an ice pack and place it on your cheek or on the side where the pain has occurred, gradually the uneasiness will diminish and you feel start feeling better.

Don’t Bite on Anything Hard: Not getting a chance to gorge on pizzas, steaks, dark chocolates and so on after the tooth extraction is definitely going to make you sulk. However, try to avoid those sorts of food items for a few days as munching on something hard can be risky after the surgery. You can eat anything soft though, mashed potatoes, chicken soup or minced meat mixed with soft boiled rice could be great options.

Don’t Sip from a Straw: Using a straw could be convenient for most of you out there but do not even try to sip from it after a tooth extraction session. It could poke the gums and lead to bleeding, which may worsen the condition and extend the healing period.

Restrain Yourself from Having Tobacco: Tobacco not only affects your body but also sabotages the condition of your oral health. And it should be totally avoided after any kind of dental surgery and not just tooth extraction.

Call us 315-497-6316 today if you are having a tough time after a tooth extraction surgery. We will give you a proper guideline on how to deal with it, so do not wait for the state to escalate.