There are, of course, many myths that stem from ancient times, and some of these strange ideas are connected to tooth extraction. People, especially children, can be negatively affected by such myths, and with that in mind, here are some of the more common tooth extraction myths debunked.
- Tooth Extraction Is A Painful Procedure – This may have been the case one hundred years ago, yet today, with modern anaesthesia, tooth extractions are painless. Prior to carrying out the extraction, the dentist would inject the gum area around the tooth, rendering it completely numb, then the extraction can take place. It is not necessary for a general anaesthetic to be administered when extracting a tooth, unless it is a very difficult wisdom tooth extraction, which is very rare.
- It Takes A Long Time To Recover From A Tooth Extraction– This is completely untrue, in fact most people can resume normal activities the very next day, and while there might be a little swelling and bleeding, this soon ceases. If you need to have a tooth urgently extracted, there is an emergency dentist service covering Lane Cove and Crows Nest, and they can be found with an online search. Some dental clinics deliberately keep patient slots open to deal with an emergency such as an extraction, so you should be able to find a local clinic who can help.
- All Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Extracted– This may have been the way dentists thought 50 years ago, yet today, we know that not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. It is only when there is not enough space for the tooth to erupt that extraction is recommended, which is a decision that should be left to your dentist.
- Tooth Extraction Is Always The Best Option For A Damaged Tooth – While extraction might be the best treatment, it isn’t always the case. Sometimes a root canal treatment is better, as this saves the tooth and does not leave a gap that could cause other teeth to loosen over time. If the tooth is decayed, but the decayed area is above the gumline, it is better to carry out root canal treatment and attach a crown to a peg that is shaped, as this saves the tooth. For more myths about tooth extraction, there are articles about the matter that you can find through a quick Google search.
Reasons For Tooth Extraction
Some of the reasons a tooth might need to be pulled include the following:
- Teeth crowding
- Abnormal tooth development
- Gum disease
- Impacted tooth
- Damaged or decayed tooth
It is generally accepted that a dentist will only recommend tooth extraction when there are no other options, and the procedure is quite straightforward and painless.
Some people have developed a fear of the dentist because they believe that the extraction process is very painful, and if you are feeling apprehensive about a tooth extraction, talk to your dentist, who will be able to reassure you that having a tooth extracted is nothing to be worried about.