Pros and Cons of Having a Tooth Extraction

What Happens During a Tooth Extraction?

The process may seem daunting, but it is an extremely common procedure that can relieve various dental issues. First, the dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic to ensure you don't feel any pain during the extraction. Then, the dentist will use forceps to loosen and remove the tooth carefully. If the tooth is impacted or difficult to remove, the dentist may need to make an incision in the gumline to access the tooth. After the tooth is removed, the dentist will provide instructions for aftercare to ensure proper healing. While tooth extractions may not be the most pleasant experience, they can provide much-needed relief in times of pain and are essential to maintaining good dental health.

Pros:

• Relieve Pain: Tooth extraction is often the best solution to relieve pain, discomfort and inflammation caused by severe cavities, gum disease or impacted teeth. The pain and discomfort will be gone immediately by extracting the problematic tooth.

• Protect Healthy Teeth: After some time, one tooth's decay can affect its neighboring teeth, and extraction may be necessary to avoid spreading the decay to other teeth.

• Create Room for Orthodontic Treatment: Receiving braces or other orthodontic treatment may require some teeth to be extracted to create room for other teeth to shift into their natural place properly.

• Prevent Infection: When a tooth is severely decayed or infected, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, spreading throughout the entire mouth and body. Tooth extraction can prevent further oral infections.

Cons:

• Pain: Although tooth extractions are commonly performed painlessly with the help of anesthesia, discomfort and pain can still occur during healing.

• Cost: The cost will likely depend on which teeth you're getting removed, among other factors. Wisdom teeth removal costs may vary and can be pretty expensive, depending on your location and the specifics of your case. Extraction of other teeth may also be pricey but is usually more affordable than wisdom teeth removal.

• Alter Chewing and Speech: After an extraction, chewing on the side of the procedure can be uncomfortable and may take some time to adjust to. It could also result in speech issues, such as lisping in rare instances, or at least temporarily.

• Time for Healing: Tooth extractions require healing time, and you may need to adjust your diet while healing to avoid irritating the area. Depending on the complexity of the extraction, the healing time could vary from a few days to several weeks.

Factors to Consider:

• Severity: The severity of the condition or the discomfort caused by the problematic tooth should be top of mind when considering extraction.