To resolve tooth pain and infection and protect the rest of your teeth, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction. While this can sound intimidating, modern dentistry offers several ways to make the procedure easy and comfortable. Here's what you need to know about the process.

Why Tooth Extraction?

Generally, it's preferable to keep your natural teeth. However, in some cases, the tooth may be too damaged to repair, or an infection is too dangerous, causing systemic health issues and affecting nearby teeth and bone. When less invasive measures like root canal therapy are unlikely to be effective, your dentist will recommend removing the tooth rather than letting the infection progress any further. Tooth extraction is also used when wisdom teeth become impacted, meaning they are putting pressure on other teeth.

How Tooth Extraction Works

Before your procedure, your dentist will thoroughly numb the affected area. Depending on your needs, you may also be offered a sedative or put under general anesthesia. Then, if the tooth is impacted below the gum line, your dentist will make a small incision to expose it. Using a tool called an elevator, the dentist will rock the tooth to loosen it, making it easy to remove. In difficult cases, the tooth may be cut into pieces to aid removal.

Recovery From Tooth Extraction

After having a tooth extracted, you'll need a week to 10 days to recover. During this time, it's crucial not to disturb the blood clot in the tooth socket. This means you should eat only soft foods and not suck on candy, straws, or cigarettes during this time to avoid creating pressure. After your tooth socket has healed, you should consider a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.

If you need tooth extraction or other dental care, call dentist Stacy Lesley DDS in Concord, NC. For over 20 years, Dr. Lesley has served Cabarrus County with a full range of effective, compassionate preventative and restorative care options including exams and fillings. To make an appointment with Dr. Lesley or her partner Dr. Sharma, contact the practice at (704) 766-1488 or online.