Tooth Extractions
Seattle, WA
No matter how you slice it, extraction is not a good word. It usually involves something being taken out of something else. In our case, extraction means we have to take out a tooth. We see tooth extractions as a last resort. We hate even to bring it up because it means that we couldn’t save a tooth. Sometimes at Queen Anne Family Dental, we don’t have any choice but to remove a tooth. If you are going to have to have a tooth extracted, you need information. Let us tell you about tooth extractions and why there are times we have to do them.
What Are Extractions?
We call taking a tooth out an extraction. Believe it or not, it is a fairly simple process. We first make sure you won’t feel any pain when we take out your tooth. We numb the area around your tooth with numbing gel, and we also use medication to make sure you won’t be in any pain. Once we know you aren’t in any pain, we use a special tool to dislodge your tooth and pull it free. While we don’t like to think about it, in many cases you will feel relief when your tooth is out. You may feel much less pain than you felt when the tooth was in.
 Why Might An Extraction Be Necessary?
We may have to remove a tooth for many reasons. Sometimes a tooth is damaged by an accident or if you have an injury. If the tooth is dead, we will most likely have to remove it because it could get infected.
We may have to remove a tooth if you have tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria. The bacteria are present in your mouth all the time. The bacteria forms a film on your teeth called plaque. You can brush plaque off your teeth easily, but when it hardens into tartar, you won’t be able to remove it. That same bacteria causes cavities. Cavities are tiny holes in your teeth that can grow bigger if you don’t get your tooth filled. The cavity left unfilled will continue to grow and expand.
Eventually it will reach the tooth pulp and the tooth nerves, which will be very painful. We might be able to save your tooth with a root canal, but if your tooth is too infected, we have to do a tooth extraction. We will move to do an extraction to save your other teeth.
That same bacteria found in tooth decay also causes gum disease. Gum disease infects your gumline, creating tartar that can be removed only with dental instruments. Bacteria along your gumline can cause inflammation and infection. If the infection isn’t treated, it will result in your gums deteriorating, which means your teeth have no place to anchor. We may have to remove a tooth to save your teeth and gums.
Are you worried that you need a tooth extraction? Give Queen Anne Family Dental a call at (206) 424-4450. Let us help ease your fears about tooth extractions.
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