Typically, your dentist does everything they can to strengthen your smile to prevent problems like tooth decay, gum disease, or injuries. Then, if you have cavities, chips, or cracks, they can fill them using tooth-colored materials so no one’s the wiser.
However, there are some circumstances where a damaged tooth is too far gone to be treated effectively. In these cases, your dentist will likely recommend an extraction. Many patients hesitate to move forward with this procedure because they’ve heard horror stories, but removing a troublesome tooth is usually nothing to worry about. Continue reading to learn about three myths about dental extractions to set your mind at ease!
Removal Myth #1: It Will Be Painful
It’s natural to assume that having a tooth pulled will inevitably hurt, and if you’re overly fearful, you might avoid scheduling your appointment altogether. Unfortunately, the longer your injured tooth goes untreated, the more likely it is to develop progressively worsening problems.
Thankfully, your dentist knows that people tend to shy away from extractions and want you to feel relaxed rather than scared. They’ll start the procedure by applying a local anesthetic around the affected tooth to numb any uncomfortable sensations so you can get through your surgery successfully.
Removal Myth #2: Recovery Takes a Long Time
Another concern many patients express is about the anticipated recovery period after their appointment. You likely aren’t overly eager to interrupt your usual routine or have to take several days off of work or school and risk falling behind.
Fortunately, the recovery period for dental extractions isn’t as long as you might think. Typically, it’s best to take a day or two to heal to avoid dislodging the blood clot that must form over the extraction site. If this is injured or dislodged, you could develop a painful complication known as dry socket. After the first few days, though, it’s usually safe to resume your regular activities as long as you continue following any pertinent post-op instructions.
Removal Myth #3: I Don’t Need to Replace My Tooth
You might think about teeth as immovable structures in your mouth, but they’re actually connected by muscles and ligaments with a natural capacity for movement. When one goes missing, the others tend to drift out of place to fill in the gap left behind. This can wear down your enamel unevenly or prematurely, increasing your vulnerability to decay, disease, and breakage. That means there are many advantages to replacing your missing tooth as soon as possible, even if it’s a molar that no one can see.
Now that you know more about what to anticipate from your dental extraction, you can see that they’re nothing to be afraid of!
About the Practice
At United Dental Centers of Hammond, you and your entire family benefit from a team of dentists who provide a full range of top-quality services. With decades of combined experience, they can help people of all ages with everything from basic preventative care to more complex procedures, like extractions. They combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art equipment to devise and deliver fully individualized treatments tailored to your unique needs. If you have a damaged tooth that needs attention, you can request an appointment on the website or call (219) 933-4900.