A severe dental infection that goes untreated may lead to potentially dangerous secondary infections like sepsis, and it may be necessary to remove teeth that are damaged beyond repair. While it can be easy to understand why it’s best to have a tooth removed if it is causing you miserable agony, it may be harder to grasp why extraction is necessary if your dental pain seems to have disappeared. Here’s why you may still need to have a tooth removed if your tooth isn’t hurting.
What Causes Toothache?
Toothache can have many causes such as grinding, gum irritation, and recent injuries. However, an agonizingly severe toothache is probably the result of untreated tooth decay that has reached the soft pulp at the center of the tooth. While it may be possible to save a severely decayed tooth with a restorative treatment such as a root canal, a tooth that cannot be saved will need to extracted and replaced.
Why Do I Still Need an Extraction if My Toothache Disappeared?
The pain caused by severe dental infection is the result of harmful bacteria attacking the nerve endings in the pulp of the tooth. This causes the nerves to send distress signals to the brain, resulting in pain. However, an infection like this that goes on too long may kill the nerve endings in the tooth, which will end the pain of the toothache.
While this may seem like the problem has been resolved, the germs will continue destroying the tooth and may possibly spread to other tissues in the mouth. To prevent this, it is still medically necessary to extract severely decayed teeth even if no pain is still present.
How Are Tooth Extractions Performed?
Modern tooth extractions are rendered completely painless by anesthetic treatments, and some patients may also benefit from sedation if they need extra help staying still and calm. Once the patient is suitably numb, their dentist will use a specialized device called an elevator to lift the tooth from the gum tissue before carefully working it loose with forceps. The patient will also receive detailed aftercare instructions to help ensure a speedy and complication-free recovery process after the procedure.
Don’t let tooth decay lead to extensive tooth loss. If your dentist recommends extraction, you can rest assured that it is the best option for your oral health.
About the Practice
PeaksView Dental offers the most outstanding oral healthcare in Bedford. With Drs. Jay Owen, Rudy Wolf, Philip S. Walerko, and David L. Polk, the staff ensures that each patient enjoys a pleasant experience in a warm and welcoming office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as extraction services. To learn more about why tooth extractions are necessary, contact the office online or dial (540) 586-8106.