Tooth Extractions: Exploring the Benefits and Side-Effects

Tooth extractions involve a dedicated procedure in which the tooth is removed. See how a dentist in Laurel MD can assist you with this procedure today.

Maybe your tooth is experiencing excruciating pain? Perhaps it feels loose in your gums? Maybe it's starting to become discolored? 

All three of these signs might indicate a need for a tooth extraction. But are tooth extractions beneficial? And are there any side effects to getting them?



We're going to cover those topics below, helping you decide whether tooth extraction is the right decision for you. Let's get into it!

The Benefits of Tooth Extractions

The benefits of tooth extraction are many. Some of the most prominent of these benefits include:

Stopping the Spread of Decay

Once one tooth becomes decayed, that decay has the potential to spread to other teeth. If you want to stop that from happening, it's simple: you have to extract the decayed tooth. 

Extracting a decayed tooth from your mouth will ensure that your other teeth don't rot prematurely, and therefore preserve both the look and functionality of your natural teeth. 

Prevents Overcrowding

One of the most common reasons for tooth extraction is to remove wisdom teeth.

Why do wisdom teeth often need to be removed? Because, when they come in, they tend to apply pressure against the already-existing teeth, leading to overcrowding and crookedness in general. 

In essence, by extracting specific teeth, you can prevent tooth overcrowding from occurring in your mouth. 

Eliminating Pain

When a tooth becomes decayed, it can sometimes lead to substantial pain. This pain can make life close to unbearable. Fortunately, with tooth extraction, you can eliminate said pain entirely. 



Then, after the tooth is removed, you can replace it with an authentic-looking but synthetic tooth. 

Tooth Extraction Risks: Potential Side Effects

When weighing tooth extraction pros and cons, it's important to keep risks in mind. Some of these include the following:

Dry Socket

A dry socket is something that can happen after tooth extraction. It's when the blood clot in the affected area is lost, exposing the jaw bone below the extracted tooth. A dry socket needs to be treated with high-powered pain meds and time. 

The key to avoiding a dry socket is to not suck on the affected area too much in the days after the extraction. 

Infection

Infections can happen after tooth extractions as well. After all, they're essentially causing open wounds in your mouth, which is essentially perpetually filled with bacteria. That always leaves a possibility for infection. 



That said, infections are fairly uncommon, especially with standard extractions.

Looking for a Dentist in Laurel MD?

Do you need tooth extractions? Looking for a dentist in Laurel MD? If so, look no further than Dr. Garland Davis. 

We've helped countless patients throughout the Laurel area, extracting their teeth in a quick, efficient, and minimally painful manner. Regardless of how many teeth you need to have extracted, our skilled and friendly dental professionals will make your experience a comfortable one. 

Contact us today to get the process started!