Losing a permanent tooth isn’t as uncommon as you might expect. By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 12 permanent teeth.
Oftentimes, however, this isn’t a matter of a tooth loosening and falling out on its own, like they did when you were a kid. Instead, many of those teeth are extracted by a dental health professional.
How do you know when you’re in need of an emergency dental extraction? Do you have a problem tooth and wonder if it’s time for it to come out?
Read on for five signs that you may need an emergency dental extraction.
1. Severe Tooth Pain
Tooth pain can stem from a number of sources, including things like cavities or enamel loss. However, severe tooth pain may indicate that you need to have the tooth extracted. This is especially the case if tooth pain continues after getting a root canal or crowns or if the tooth appears damaged.
2. Abscess or Infection
As gum disease progresses untreated, it can cause problems for individual teeth, especially when an abscess or infection sets in. If you’re noticing things like jaw pain, bad breath, swollen lymph nodes, or a fever, it’s time to seek personalized, friendly, dental care. In some cases, extracting the tooth is the best way to mitigate the spread of infection to other areas of the mouth.
3. Severe Tooth Decay
Tooth decay can present itself in several ways. You might notice temperature sensitivity or pain when you bite down, or you might notice discoloration or visible pits in the tooth. If a tooth is too decayed for a root canal, tooth extraction is the next step in the treatment process.
4. Irreparable Tooth Damage
A blow to the mouth can lead to tooth damage such as cracks or chips. Even if the initial damage appears mild and doesn’t cause any unpleasant symptoms (such as pain), it’s important that you seek emergency dental care. Your dentist can treat minor tooth damage and save the affected tooth, but if the damage worsens, you will find yourself in need of tooth extraction.
5. Problematic Overcrowding
One of the rare but possible signs that you need tooth extraction is problematic overcrowding. While overcrowding is often an issue that you can address with an orthodontist by way of braces, some overcrowding will require more drastic measures. For example, if you have one tooth growing in over another, it’s possible that your dentist will need to pull one of those teeth.
Don’t Wait Around for Your Emergency Dental Extraction
Why suffer from uncomfortable symptoms or risk the worsening of your dental health when you don’t have to? Many dentists offer emergency dentist services, allowing you to come in when the situation is dire. Don’t wait around for emergency dental extraction when you start to notice any of these signs.
Looking for more helpful tips and tricks? Take a look around while we cover topics ranging from technology to marketing and beyond. We’re your one-stop shop for all of the latest happenings.
