Compared to other dental treatments, tooth extractions get a bad rap. People often view them as something you should avoid at all costs. “After all,” they think, “you’d have to be in a terrible situation to need a tooth pulled.” The truth, though, is that extractions are nothing to fear; they’ll only do you and your oral health good! In contrast, their negative rumors and gossip are almost always false. As proof of these facts, here are four busted myths about emergency tooth extractions.
Only Wisdom Teeth Are Extracted
Some believe that only wisdom teeth need extraction. As such, you can avoid having a tooth pulled in most cases.
However, the reality is that other teeth can need extraction too. For instance, your dentist may suggest removing a tooth damaged by decay or injury. Similarly, you might want to pull a tooth that struggles to erupt. Otherwise, it could become impacted and cause enormous pain. Extraction could also be necessary when your teeth are overcrowded.
Tooth Extractions Are Painful
Perhaps the biggest myth about tooth extractions is that they’re painful. That idea comes more from pop culture than it does from hard science.
You see, the extraction process shouldn’t cause patients any pain. Your dentist will likely use an anesthetic to numb your mouth beforehand. As such, the most you might feel is a slight needle prick.
Recovery Is a Long Process
Since treatment would pull a tooth from your jaw, you might think recovery would take a long time. As it turns out, however, that’s not the case.
Generally, it takes about one or two weeks for a tooth’s socket to heal from an extraction. Even so, most patients only feel mild pain and discomfort for a few days after treatment. In fact, you’ll recover quite quickly if you follow the proper aftercare.
Replacing an Extracted Tooth isn’t Necessary
To minimize dental care, some think they can leave a tooth gap alone after an extraction. Unfortunately, doing that would be a mistake.
Without a replacement tooth, a smile gap would cause your other teeth to shift. This shifting process, in turn, could lead to a crooked smile and a misaligned bite. Plus, having an empty socket would cause bone loss in your jaw.
As you can see, tooth extractions aren’t awful things. If you need one in the future, then, don’t hesitate to talk to your dentist.
About the Practice
Salmon Brook Dental is based in Granby, CT. As led by Drs. Kenneth Endres and Gunveen Chawla, our practice offers high-quality and customized dental care. Therefore, we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, including emergency procedures when needed. Whether you need teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, or even tooth extraction, our office is here to help! For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (860)-653-4551.