If you have a really bad toothache or if your tooth is significantly damaged or infected, you might need to have it taken out right away. Even though it’s scary for a lot of people, sometimes taking out the tooth is the best way to stop the pain and make sure your mouth stays healthy. This doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do.
Reasons for Emergency Tooth Extraction
- Severe tooth decay
- Advanced gum disease
- Trauma to the tooth
- Infection or abscess
Tooth Extractions: 5 Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Sign 1: Severe Tooth Pain
Severe and persistent tooth pain is one of the most prominent signs that you may need an emergency tooth extraction. The ache can be throbbing, sharp, or constant and is mostly related to background problems like advanced decaying, infection, or trauma. When a person is experiencing too much pain and even medicines seem to do little help to relieve pain, immediate care should be taken. Extremely bad toothaches can be a sign of worsening infections or abscesses, which would require emergency extractions to avoid further complications.
Sign 2: Signs of Infection
A dental infection can cause serious problems, including an abscess. Other, more common infection signs include swelling of the gums or face, fever, and foul taste or odor in the mouth, in addition to the pus around the affected tooth. If untreated, dental infections can spread into the rest of the body and threaten a person’s life. A tooth extraction may be performed to remove an infected tooth to prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth or the bloodstream.
Sign 3: Trauma or Injury
Trauma and accidents can seriously hurt your teeth, gums, and jawbones, demanding emergency dental care. If a tooth gets cracked, fractured, or displaced due to the trauma, then you need an immediate appointment with a dentist. Sometimes, the damage can be irreparable, and urgent tooth extraction may turn out to be the only option to prevent further complications and heal the mouth completely.
Sign 4: Impacted Wisdom Teeth
One of the common reasons for extracting wisdom teeth is due to impaction. This mostly happens if there is little space for them to come out or when they grow at an angle. Some of the symptoms that come with impacted wisdom teeth include pain, swelling, inflamed gums, and trouble opening the mouth. Suppose impacted wisdom teeth go on to cause recurring infections, injury to other teeth, or cyst development. In that case, their removal may sometimes be urgently necessary to relieve acute symptoms or avoid further complications later on.
Sign 5: Persistent Gum Problems
Badly affected teeth are present in the case of chronic gum problems like periodontal disease. This may cause the gums to recede and may involve the roots of teeth, thus destabilizing them. This usually leads to tooth loss in later stages of the process. If there is a serious gum problem, extraction is recommended to retain overall oral health when it cannot be treated with conventional treatments.
Why is it important to know the signs of extraction?
1. Early Detection: If one knows the signs of extraction, dental problems will then be detected early, preventing further complications from arising by solving the problem earlier.
2. Monitoring of Oral Health: It allows for proper monitoring of your oral health. A professional can address any unusual symptoms to maintain overall oral well-being.
3. Prevention of Infection: Early identification of extraction signs helps a person take precautionary measures against any sort of infection in the extraction site and ensures quicker healing and recovery from the relative problem.
4. Effects on Other Teeth: It is always imperative to monitor extraction signs to determine their effects on the neighboring teeth. This will help dentists know how to intervene in time to preserve dental alignment and functionality.
5. Restoration Alternatives: Early recognition of tooth extraction signs helps to consider proper restoration alternatives in order to maintain the functionality and appearance of the mouth.
What You Should Do When You Observe These Signs
If you develop some signs that you need a tooth extraction, do not waste your time and follow this:
- Contact a Dentist Immediately: At the first onset of acute tooth pain, swelling, prolonged bleeding, dental trauma, or some infection, you should seek an immediate visit to a dentist. They shall assess your situation and advise accordingly on the next course of action to take.
- Take Instructions by Dentist: Once you have contacted a dentist, do accordingly. The dentist may advise you to take some steps that will help relieve your sufferings or be prepared for the extraction process.
- Get Prepared for Tooth Extraction Procedure: If the dentist confirms extracting your tooth, then get prepared for it after consulting with them. It may involve certain precautionary measures, such as making transport arrangements and following the pre-extraction instructions they give.
