3 Common Instances When Emergency Tooth Extraction Is Necessary

Posted on: 19 February 2021

It is normal to think that your teeth will last a lifetime. However, things are not always as straightforward because your oral health hinges on several factors. For example, a time might come when you need an emergency tooth extraction. Many people do not anticipate such situations, but you have no option but to listen to your dentist when you find yourself in one. Typically, emergency tooth extraction is meant to save remaining teeth and reduce pain. However, how do you know that you are a candidate for an emergency tooth extraction?

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last pair of teeth to emerge from the gums. Although wisdom teeth grow normally in most people, it is advisable to remove them to prevent other teeth from misalignment. However, the extraction does not count as an emergency. Wisdom teeth become a problem when impacted; instead of growing upwards, the teeth grow sideways or stop erupting altogether. It leads to excruciating pain and discomfort, exposing the gums to infection. As such, emergency tooth extraction is mandatory for impacted wisdom teeth.

Dental Abscess

Dental abscess refers to the accumulation of pus inside and around a tooth or the gums. Typically, bacteria in plaque and saliva are the most common causes of dental abscesses, which is why dentists encourage brushing or flossing of the teeth after every meal. Preliminarily, dental abscess starts in the tooth's soft pulp and spreads to the surrounding gum. Over time, it becomes difficult to chew food due to the soft tissues' tenderness and pain. Bad taste in the mouth and fever are the other common symptoms of dental abscess. Noteworthy, dental abscess does not heal by itself, and the infection spreads to other areas if not addressed. The best way to treat dental abscess is root canal surgery to extract infected teeth. Emergency tooth extraction is particularly essential if a dental abscess makes breathing and swallowing difficult.

Progressed Periodontal Disease

Unlike gingivitis, a reversible condition with proper oral care, it is impossible to reverse a periodontal disease after progressing significantly. The reason is that periodontitis targets structures supporting the teeth, such as the gums and jaw bone. As your gums recede from a periodontal attack, the teeth begin to loosen and eventually fall off. Since severe periodontal disease is incurable, the best a dentist can do is emergency extraction of decayed tooth. It helps stop the spread and progression of the disease.

For more information, contact an emergency dental service.

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