Managing Severe Tooth Decay: When Extraction Becomes Necessary
Preserving your natural teeth with crowns is always the preferred option, but sometimes tooth decay can progress to the point where you’ll need an extraction. Tooth decay can lead to persistent pain, infection, and eventual tooth loss without early intervention. In this post, we’ll explore the ways that we try to manage and treat tooth decay and what happens when an extraction performed by an oral surgeon in Melbourne becomes necessary.
Understanding Severe Tooth Decay
Severe tooth decay usually begins with an untreated cavity. Maintaining an oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing and flossing at least twice daily and regular dental visits is essential throughout life. If a cavity develops and is left untreated, the decay can eventually reach the tooth’s dentin and pulp. That’s when problems start to manifest. Patients begin to experience pain, and the risk of tooth loss accelerates.
Tooth Decay Treatment Options Before Extraction
If you see your general dentist before the tooth decay becomes too severe, they’ll try to preserve the affected tooth. Root canal procedures can remove infected pulp, and the dentist seals the tooth’s cavity with biocompatible material. If the infection has been dealt with, crowns and fillings can preserve some of the natural tooth, which is the preferred option. These standard procedures, however, have limited effectiveness once infection and decay have advanced too far.
If a decaying tooth is causing persistent infection, it can pose a risk to your overall health. If left untreated, it can also impact the adjacent teeth and the jawbone’s integrity. Sometimes treatments like a root canal or crown can fail. When this occurs, your dentist may recommend extraction.
Types of Extractions and When You Need an Oral Surgeon
If the tooth is evident and easy to reach, your general dentist can simply extract it. If a tooth is impacted, broken off at the gumline, or difficult to remove, your dentist will likely make a referral to our office for a surgical extraction.
Your oral surgeon may need to incise the gum to access the broken tooth. The procedure may even require the removal of some bone to access the tooth. This is sometimes the only way to extract a tooth with severe structural damage. Depending on the complexity of the extraction and your comfort level, the oral surgeon will recommend local anesthetic, sedation, or general anesthesia.
Post-Extraction Care and Recovery
For the first 24 hours after a tooth extraction, you should avoid vigorously rinsing your mouth. A blood clot will be in the hole where the tooth was extracted, and dislodging the clot can cause a condition known as dry socket. You should also avoid drinking through a straw. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medications can help manage discomfort.
Gently rinsing with warm saltwater can help prevent infections. For the first few days after the extraction, stick to strictly soft foods. Follow-up visits will ensure that the site heals properly. If you experience persistent pain or complications, contact your oral surgeon in Melbourne immediately.
Tooth Replacement Options
Once you’ve fully recovered after a tooth extraction, it’s time to consult Dr. Sedaros about tooth replacement. Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing a missing tooth.
There are some good reasons to have a dental implant procedure. That missing tooth can cause your remaining teeth to shift over time. This can lead to difficulty chewing and other possible problems. Missing teeth can also change the shape of your facial features, giving your cheeks a “sunken” appearance. A dental implant can fill the gap and prevent these issues.
Dental implants require a couple of surgical visits. The first is to place a titanium post into the jawbone, which will serve as the artificial tooth’s root. The second visit will happen several months later and involves attaching a custom-made crown to the post. This long-lasting solution helps prevent further bone loss. You’ll also maintain your regular facial structure and improve your ability to chew food.
If you’re missing a tooth or need an extraction due to advanced decay, Contact Us at Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants in Melbourne to schedule an appointment.