Unfortunately although our adult teeth are designed to last a lifetime, sometimes due to an accident, decay or infection, a tooth may be damaged beyond repair. Your dentist may suggest that the only choice, to prevent further discomfort and any continued damage to your other teeth, is to remove the affected tooth.
Reasons to extract a tooth
Our dentists see tooth removal as a last resort, but there are a few occasions where your dentist may think tooth removal is the only option. The most common reason for tooth removal is that the tooth is too badly damaged from decay or from trauma, but sometimes a tooth may be removed for orthodontic reasons; to help when the mouth is too crowded, or if the tooth has not broken properly through the gum.
How extraction works
At White Rose Dental we understand that the thought of having a tooth removed can be upsetting to some people. Therefore we will do our best to make you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. We will take you through every step of the treatment so you know what to expect. Your dentist will start by giving you a local anesthetic to numb the area surrounding the tooth to be removed.
Once your mouth is fully numb, your dentist will gently pull the tooth out, holding it with forceps and rocking it to and fro to loosen it from the jawbone. You should not feel any pain, just pressure. A hard to remove tooth may be broken into pieces in order to be extracted. Once the tooth is removed your dentist will advise you on how best to look after your mouth until you are fully healed and may suggest some over the counter painkillers.