In the media, having a tooth extracted (or pulled) looks painful. However, when someone has to have a tooth extracted, that means that their pain is lessened, not multiplied. Here is some information about having your tooth pulled and tooth pain.
Why Do I Need a Tooth Pulled?
You may need to have a tooth extracted for several reasons. The most common reason our dentist has to extract a tooth is tooth decay.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay happens when bacterial acid in your mouth erodes your tooth enamel. Over time, the infection eats through your tooth enamel into the second layer of your tooth, called dentin. If enough time passes, tooth decay can enter the tooth pulp and cause a massive infection that can kill the tooth. Dentists sometimes will extract a diseased tooth to save your jaw, gums, and other teeth from becoming infected.
Trauma
There are times when our dentist has no choice but to pull a tooth, especially if the patient has experienced trauma. You may have bruxism, which means you grind or clench your teeth at night. You can clench and grind your teeth severely enough to fracture them. You can also need a tooth pulled if you are hit in the face by an object or you are in an accident. It is also possible you can experience trauma in your jaw that can also break teeth.
To Gain Space
If you have many teeth that are crowded too closely together, you may need to have a tooth or two pulled to make room in your mouth. By pulling a tooth, our dentist allows your teeth to be straightened and spaced.
What About the Pain?
What if you are concerned about the potential pain you may suffer from? In general, your pain from disease or trauma will be far greater than your pain from an extracted tooth. If you worry about pain, it is a really good opportunity to talk to our dentist about options for pain management. Why not reach out to our office as soon as possible for an appointment?
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