Will Emergency Dentist Extract Teeth?

If you have a damaged adult tooth that is causing you pain, you may be a good candidate for an emergency dentist tooth extraction. It may be possible for the damaged tooth to be repaired, but, if it can’t be repaired, you may find yourself in need of an emergency tooth extraction. Many things can lead to emergency tooth extractions. Teeth sustain all kinds of damage, from tooth decay to gum disease to infection or abscess. Sometimes, wisdom teeth, the back molars that emerge in people’s late teens or twenties, get impacted in the jaw and can’t break through the surface of the gums. This may cause discomfort to the extent that emergency extraction is necessary. Injury to the mouth or jaw may necessitate an emergency extraction, as well as fractures in the roots of teeth or an irreparably broken tooth. Keeping in mind that your teeth all function together to keep your mouth and jaw healthy, if one tooth is damaged or infected, this could lead to larger issues, and it’s important to address in a timely manner. For example, if a previous root canal treatment or course of antibiotic medication hasn’t worked in staving off infection in a tooth, extraction may be the best way to prevent the infection from spreading. In cases where a patient’s immune system is compromised, this infection prevention is especially important.

You may be a good candidate for an emergency tooth extraction if you’re suffering from gum pain, extreme sensitivity of the teeth, pain while chewing, discoloration of the teeth, a persistent bad taste or smell in your mouth, swelling that impedes swallowing or opening your mouth, the presence of unusual fluid or pus in the mouth, loose teeth, or general pain of the teeth. Generally speaking, an emergency tooth extraction is a routine procedure. First, the dentist will take an x-ray of the affected tooth, to determine the best approach to extracting the tooth. Then, the dentist will inject a local anesthetic in the area surrounding the tooth of concern. Once the local anesthetic has taken effect, the emergency dentist will gently loosen the tooth by rocking it from side to side until it has loosened sufficiently to allow removal. Usually, patients feel some pressure during this procedure, though you shouldn’t feel any significant pain. If you do, be sure to tell your dentist as it’s happening.

Some patients need more complex extractions, depending on the severity of the problem and the complexity of the tooth. Depending on the extent of breakage or decay, the length of the tooth’s root, and how much bone is holding the tooth in place, some extractions may require minor surgical skills. In cases where there isn’t a lot of tooth present, either because it has decayed or broken, or if it never grew in in the first place, the dentist may need to clear away some gum tissue and possibly remove a bit of bone before extracting the tooth. In cases where the affected tooth has multiple or complex roots, the dentist may need to break the tooth apart before extracting it. If the extraction is too complex or challenging for an emergency dentist, they may refer the patient to an oral and maxillofacial surgery expert, who may use general anesthesia or sedation.

After you have your tooth extracted, you may experience a little bleeding or swelling in the gums, and you may feel slight pain. In most cases, these symptoms will subside within 24 hours; if they don’t, call your dentist. You should expect to heal fully within about a week, and you can expedite your recovery and increase your comfort by using an ice compress on the outside of your mouth and avoiding hard foods. Only a dentist can determine whether you’re a good candidate for a tooth extraction, emergency or otherwise, so be sure to get in with a dentist immediately if you think you may have a concern that would be helped by extraction. The most effective way to avoid needing a tooth extraction is by treating your teeth with care. Avoid using them as tools, such as bottle openers, and make sure to schedule and attend two professional dental exams and cleanings a year. Daily care is also important to prevent decay and infection, so floss daily and brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Emergencies may arise, but with care and caution, you can do your part to prevent the necessity of an emergency tooth extraction.

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