A dental extraction may be required for a number of reasons.
- It may be due to severe decay where there would not be enough of the sound tooth remaining to rebuild a tooth.
- If there is severe infection it may not be possible to save the tooth with root canal treatment
- Unfortunately, in today’s economic climate, patients may not be able to afford to have root canal treatment and then extraction may be the only option. However, this is always a short term saving, as the cost of replacing the tooth is always higher than the cost of the root canal treatment. Please ask about our payment plans where we can spread the costs of treatment and help you avoid extractions
- For orthodontic treatment to create space. With new treatments such as Fast Braces, extractions for orthodontics are becoming less and less common
- The tooth may have lost all of it’s bone support because of gum disease, making the tooth very loose and uncomfortable . Unfortunately, when gum disease has progressed to this level, extractions become the only option. Bone loss caused by gum disease happens painlessly over time, and that is why it is so important to attend regularly for dental check- ups and have your dentist check for the early signs of gum disease. Prevention is better than cure!
- Wisdom teeth start appearing from 18 years of age and often there is not enough space in the jaw for the teeth to come through properly. The wisdom teeth may even be angled in such a way that makes it impossible for them to come through. The gum around these wisdom teeth can get infected and cause swelling and pain. Again, these teeth won’t disappear, and your dentist will need to take x-rays and advise you about extractions . You may need to be referred to a Specialist Oral Surgeon for removal of these teeth . At Mullingar Dental Centre we have our own visiting Oral Surgeon, Dr Justin Maloney, so you shouldn’t need to make a trip a Dublin to have the best care for your wisdom teeth
Why have a tooth removed?
A tooth that requires extraction should be extracted as soon as possible to keep infection from spreading to other areas of your mouth. If you are considering travelling, please have your wisdom teeth checked before you head off, as it can be difficult and expensive to get treatment abroad.
What's the procedure for extractions?
For teeth that are visible in the mouth, and where the root formation is straightforward on x-ray, we would perform a routine extraction. We start by getting the tooth numb with the Wand, our pain free numbing device. You will feel a small amount of pressure as we ease the tooth out, but you should not feel pain.
If the tooth is very badly broken, or the roots are very long and curved, or it is a wisdom tooth , we will need to do a surgical extraction . You may be referred to the oral surgeon for this. Generally it should feel similar to a routine extraction, but if we feel it will be difficult for you we will suggest having the procedure done under sedation with our Oral Surgeon.
What to do to speed recovery?
- Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist
- After 24 hours rinse your mouth gently with salt and warm water several times a day to reduce swelling and pain
- Change gauze pads before they become soaked in blood
- Relax and rest after surgery – avoid physical activity
- Avoid smoking
- Eat soft foods
- Do not lie flat- use extra pillows to prop your head up
- Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue
- Carefully brush your teeth and tongue
- If pain persists, it may mean that you have a dry socket. Please contact us on 0449340370 for advice
Additional Information
Use the form below to get further information. Alternatively, contact us at 044 9340370 or by email at info@familydentist.ie.