Tooth Extraction in Charlotte, NC
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If your tooth has been badly damaged or is past the point of being repaired, we can help you. At Luminous Dental in Charlotte, NC, we offer tooth extraction procedures to help improve your oral health and hygiene.
What is a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction is a dental procedure during which your entire tooth and root are completely removed from its socket. Before pulling the tooth, Dr. Carli will numb the area where the tooth will be removed. She’ll loosen the tooth using elevators, then place forceps around it to extract it t from the gums. If the tooth is impacted, we will cut away the gum and bone tissue that cover it and then, using forceps, grasp the tooth and gently rock it back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and ligaments that hold it in place. We will then clean out the gum socket and suture the gum tissue when necessary.
Why Would You Need to Get a Tooth Pulled?
- Decay or Infection: You may need a tooth extraction if the tooth has become damaged due to decay or infection. Left untreated, decay can slowly eat away at the enamel and dentin and eventually reach the pulp – the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. Eventually, the bacteria will enter the pulp, potentially resulting in an infection. The healthy pulp will have an inflammatory response to the bacteria to fight the infection, but the white blood cells can only hold it off for so long. The pressure inside the pulp will increase, cutting off the blood supply, starving the nerve, and killing the pulp.
- Trauma or Injury: Trauma or injury to your tooth is another reason you may need a tooth extraction. For example, getting hit in the mouth with a soccer ball or tripping and hitting your mouth against something can cause the blood vessels to burst or the blood supply to the tooth to be cut off. When no blood flows to the tooth, the nerve and other living tissues inside the pulp will die.
- Not enough room for all the teeth in your mouth: Sometimes, there is not enough room in the mouth for teeth. This often happens when kids lose their teeth before their mouths grow enough or when they have bad bites. When there is not enough space for new teeth, it can cause them to come in at an angle, rotate, overlap, or simply grow into places that cause the mouth to become uncomfortable. In this case, tooth extraction may be the only option.
- Orthodontic Treatment: Tooth extraction is necessary for certain orthodontic cases to achieve the best results. This is especially necessary when there’s too much crowding, the jaw is too small to support all the teeth properly, or a specific tooth is too big or abnormally shaped. Pulling teeth is only done if necessary, and your orthodontist will consider all options to achieve a healthy smile before recommending an extraction.
- Wisdom teeth: If a wisdom tooth doesn’t have room to grow (impacted wisdom tooth), resulting in pain, infection, or other dental problems, you’ll likely need to remove it.
Can You Leave a Dead Tooth in Your Mouth?
A dead tooth no longer has living nerves and tissue inside. It may take months or several years to become an issue, and you may be tempted to leave it in place. Left untreated, the bacteria from the dead tooth can spread and lead to the loss of additional teeth. The infection could also affect your jawbone and gums. As another general dentistry option, root canal therapy is the only way to save a dead tooth, given that the tooth is salvageable. During the procedure, Dr. Carli opens the tooth and uses small instruments to remove the pulp and clean the infection. Once the infection has been removed and the area thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, she will seal the roots and place a permanent filling in the small opening.
Is Tooth Removal Painful?
With sedation dentistry options, tooth removal is virtually painless. Depending on the complexity of the extraction and the anxiety level of the patient, we will use local anesthesia and, if necessary, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), or we can prescribe an oral sedative, such as Valium, to help calm and relax. Following tooth removal, you may experience soreness for a few days. Still, over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol and Ibuprofen can help you manage the pain. If your extraction was complex or required surgery of the gums and bone, we might prescribe an antibiotic.
- Side Effects: Normal side effects following tooth extraction include bleeding, swelling, and discomfort. Dr.Carli will provide instructions on how to manage your healing successfully.
- Recovery Time: For most people, you’ll be able to return to routine activities within 48 to 72 hours. However, you should avoid strenuous activities for at least two days, so if you have a job that requires a lot of lifting or physical labor, you may need to take a few days off work.
Schedule a Tooth Extraction Appointment with Us Today
If you need to have a tooth extraction due to decay, trauma, overcrowding, or an impacted wisdom tooth, Dr. Carli can help. We will examine you and develop a customized treatment plan to give you the care you need and deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our Charlotte, NC, dental practice!