Getting your teeth pulled can seem like a scary experience. If you choose the right dentist to perform dental extractions in Chicago, it won’t seem as bad. You should choose a dentist that you trust. There are things you should know about the procedure, such as reasons to get a tooth pulled and the process.
Reasons for Pulling Teeth
Some common reasons that a dentist might pull your teeth is because of an overcrowded mouth, severe tooth decay, or even the risk of an infection. When your mouth is overcrowded with teeth, a dentist will want to remove some teeth to properly align the rest of them. When your tooth becomes decayed, it can sometimes extend to the pulp of your teeth, which can harm your gums.
Your dentist may want to remove the decayed tooth to prevent other issues. If your immune system is going to be compromised due to an organ transplant, radiation, or chemotherapy, it can make your teeth susceptible to infections. You might have to have a tooth pulled to prevent infections that can spread throughout your mouth.
The Process
If you are only having one or two teeth pulled, your dentist will typically use a general anesthesia to numb the area. If you need a lot of teeth removed at once, you might receive stronger doses of anesthesia that will cause you to sleep through the procedure. If the tooth is impacted, your dentist may have to cut your bone tissue and gums to remove the tooth.
They may have to move the tooth backward and forward to loosen it before pulling. After the tooth is removed, a blood clot will usually form where the tooth used to be. Your dentist will place gauze over the clot and ask you to bite down to stop the bleeding if you are awake for the procedure. They might also use dissolvable stitches to close the gap of where your tooth used to be. It is usually a simple procedure and can be done within a few hours.