At Glow Dental, we have seen enough worried-looking patients walk into our Auckland clinic to know that the idea of tooth extraction can be daunting. But here’s a newsflash – dental removal is ultimately painless. Practically all our patients agree that the most uncomfortable part is the anaesthetic injection, which is over in a matter of seconds, and that there is no pain whatsoever in the extraction process itself.
There are several reasons your dentist might recommend tooth or teeth removal, and we will look at those in a moment. But it is important to note that in many cases, removing the tooth will also mean saying goodbye to a toothache that might have been troubling you for some time. In other words, far from causing pain, the extraction process will relieve it.
Why Might Extraction Be Necessary?
The most common reason for a dentist to suggest extraction is because of infected or rotten teeth, where the damage is so severe that other alternatives such as a filling, crown or root canal are not viable.
Tooth decay often leads to an infection in the nerve, and this can, in turn, result in the formation of an abscess. Here, pus begins to form around the root of the tooth. It results in significant pain and tenderness around the teeth and gums, as well as doing damage to the tooth that is often irreparable.
Your dentist might recommend the removal of a tooth that has been cracked or broken, perhaps in an accident. With this type of damage, other options such as dental crowns might be used, but when the damage is severe, or the nerve is likely to die, then extracting the tooth is the best course of action.
The other reason you might need to have one or more teeth removed is as part of your overall orthodontic treatment if there is overcrowding. In the majority of cases, this means removing the first bicuspid (also known as premolar) teeth
Extraction Brings Big Benefits
The most significant benefit of extraction is that it relieves what has often been considerable pain associated with an infected tooth. With the tooth and root removed, the gum soon heals, and the patient feels better than ever in a matter of days.
Getting rid of rotten teeth permanently means there is no risk of the problem escalating. With the decayed teeth left untreated, the infection can spread to neighbouring teeth, causing even more pain and long-term damage that can ultimately affect your whole smile.
There are also cosmetic benefits to extraction. Nobody wants to be showing off a broken or discoloured tooth. Removal provides the first step in getting the smile you’ve always wanted.
