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We always try to save natural teeth, and that is what you would prefer as well but sometimes extraction may be the only possible option. A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. It is performed for multiple reasons like:

• Tooth decay involving the infection in nerves and blood vessels in the tooth and where root canal treatment cannot be done
• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Orthodontics (braces) – you may have to have teeth extracted to create space and so other teeth can be brought into line
• Periodontal disease – bacterial infection under the gum can lead to loss of bone resulting in the tooth becoming loose
• Teeth that have been damaged by trauma

In any instance, if you have undergone extraction, there could be few postoperative problems. It would be good for you to be aware of them so you do not panic and contact your dentist if any concern.

Some common risks after extractions are:

• Allergic reactions can happen to medications or anaesthetics used for the extraction.
• Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can help to manage the following symptoms: Post-operative pain, stiffness of the adjoining or nearby muscles, brushing and swelling
• Continued bleeding and infection of the area are less common and may require further management if they occur, such as treatment with antibiotics for an infection. It is better to contact your dentist of you are experiencing continued bleeding.

Other uncommon risks are:

• Numbness – There is the possibility of injury to the nerves of the face or tissues of the oral cavity during the administration of anesthetics or during the extraction, which may cause a numbness of the lips, tongue, tissues of the mouth and/or facial tissues. This numbness is usually temporary but may be permanent. If you are experiencing prolonged numbness, it would be best to inform your dentist about it,
• Opening of sinus (oroantral communication) – The extraction of the upper molars is associated with a risk of opening of the maxillary sinus, which will need to be repaired. Generally symptoms of open sinus are non-healing socket, open communication between nose and mouth, bad breath. If your dentist has advised risk of opening of sinus after extraction, avoid coughing, sneezing, smoking and using straw.
• Dry sockets – When a tooth is extracted, a blood clot naturally forms over the area which leads to healing. This blood clot may be dislodged prematurely, which can lead to a condition known as osteitis or dry socket. Generally onset of dry socket symptoms starts few days after extraction. It is best to contact dentist for treatment of dry socket.
• Delayed Healing – If you have unusual delayed healing, then need to make sure if not taking any medication which causes delayed healing. Some medications, such as bisphosphonates used in the treatment of osteoporosis or some cancers, can affect the healing process of the jaw following Tooth extraction so that the recovery takes longer than usual. Also, individuals who have a history of radiation treatment directed towards the head and neck area have an increased risk of developing a condition known as osteoradionecrosis after having a tooth extracted. This involves necrosis and death of the bone underneath the extracted tooth due to damage to the blood vessels that serve the bone, as a result of exposure to radiation. Generally, your dentist would have checked this before extracting teeth.
• For some patients, particularly those who have lost several back teeth, collapse of the bite may occur. This is also known as loss of vertical dimension of occlusion. As a result, front teeth can get damaged and changes in the muscle contractions can eventually lead to symptoms such as dry, chapped or cracked lips.

Do you have pain in your jaw or the side of your face? Do you have difficulty in opening your mouth or eating? You could be suffering from TMJ disorder or temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome.

This is the most common temporomandibular disorder and presents with symptoms of pain, restricted jaw movements and a clicking noise in the jaw. Other symptoms include: headaches, neck pain, ear pain and trismus (commonly called lockjaw).

The reasons for this disorder are not clear and are difficult to determine. These could be trauma to the jaw, damage to a disc in the joint, genetic conditions, arthritis, poor occlusion, missing back teeth, clenching or bruxism (grinding of teeth) but these do not necessarily cause TMJ disorder.

Sometimes the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder is short-term and can be relieved with self-managed care. This can include physiotherapy, muscle relaxants, heat application or the use of a non-surgical treatment such as an occlusal splint. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed. Rather than reaching this stage it is best to take measures to take care of the jaw joints.

Here are a few ways to take care of the jaw joint:

• Keep your back teeth for life and as healthy as possible. It is true that only the front teeth are seen when we smile and no one will notice if we are missing the back teeth. Back teeth are there for a reason, and not only for chewing our food properly, but also to keep our right and left joints in balance. If we do lose the back teeth, it is important to replace them promptly so that we do not harm our joints.
• Refrain from excessive use of chewing gums. It is true that sugar free chewing gums help us to stimulate saliva that is very important to oral health; however, habitual usage of it may harm the TMJ. Be careful in stretching our mouth too much during yawning. Never test your mouth as to how far you can open it.
• Always keep your teeth apart when your lips are closed whenever we are not eating or talking. It is important to rest our teeth from touching each other, not only this is healthy for our teeth; it is also healthy for our joints. If you do clench your teeth during the day, you can train yourself by placing reminder everywhere with a note not to clench, and to smile instead for that very moment when you clench. Notice when you genuinely smile, your teeth are not touching.
• See your dentist if you think you might grind your teeth at night. You might need to be checked as well if this is only a stress-related issue or if it a sleep apnoea related condition. If you have noticed clicks with your joints, don’t be too worried, but make sure you mention this to your dentist. However, if you have had a locked-jaw or jaw pain, book an appointment to have this checked-out; we do not want it to worsen.
• Try to remain stress-free. It is true that stress can cause a lot of illnesses and that includes problems in our oral health. Regular maintenance is very important, see your dentist regularly and not only when there is a problem.

Come see us for an appointment today to have your teeth and jaw joints checked.

Blog by: Dr Beverly San Pablo

What if you suspect that you have a Cracked Tooth?

The best treatment for a suspected cracked tooth is to have it checked by your dentist as soon as possible. The following are some of the signs which can help to detect a cracked tooth:
• Sharp pain on biting, (especially on release or opening) that quickly disappears.
• Usually on a molar or premolar (back teeth)
• Spontaneous pain
• Pain while eating or drinking
• Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold food or drinks
• Some cracks may be asymptomatic
• A cracked tooth may not be visible to the eye or on an x-ray.

Possible Causes of Cracked Teeth

There can be many causes of cracked teeth and some of them are as follows:
• You can cause a tooth to crack by chewing on foods such as ice, nuts, or hard lollies.
• A blow to the mouth may cause a tooth to crack.
• Clenching and grinding your teeth often causes teeth to crack.
• Brittle teeth that have had a root canal therapy may crack easily.
• Loss of tooth structure through wear, large fillings, or other restorations may cause a tooth to crack. This is especially true for older amalgam (silver) fillings, as they have a tendency to expand and shrink over time, resulting in flexure of the remaining tooth structure which cracks.
• Uneven chewing pressure from missing teeth or imperfections in the way teeth bite together. For example, high fillings or mal-aligned teeth

Treatment for a Cracked Tooth

Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the size and location of the crack and your symptoms. These include:
• Sometimes no treatment is recommended if the crack is small and not causing the patient any pain.
• Reducing the height of the tooth or filling slightly, or placing a metal band around the tooth if diagnosis is uncertain.
• Repairing the tooth with a filling material and reducing the height of the remaining tooth to protect it.
• Placing a crown, or onlay on the tooth to protect the tooth from further damage
• Root canal treatment if the nerves and pulp are involved
• Extraction of the tooth if the crack is severe and the tooth cannot be saved.
The best treatment is to have a suspected cracked tooth checked by your dentist as early as possible.

If you are not sure if you have a cracked tooth, give us a call today so that we can schedule you an appointment as soon as possible.

My dentist has advised a tooth extraction. How could I avoid it?

Do you have an achy tooth?  Your tooth, as well as gum, can cause severe pain, which must not be avoided or taken for granted. Rather, immediate treatment or medical assistance is required. You should not falter in communicating with your dentist.  

The best way to avoid any extractions is to prevent the tooth from reaching the condition where it needs extraction. If the tooth has gone beyond scope of restoration, you can discuss with your dentist an alternative option like root canal treatment , periodontal treatment or you can seek a second opinion.

If the tooth can not be saved with any treatment and is advised extraction, it could have some possible complications of keeping the tooth.

 Before things move out of your hand and vision, take proper care of your dental issues and do frequent check-ups. 

Are you wondering why it is necessary to do emergency tooth extraction? Here are some reasons for you. Let’s have a look at them!

Keeping the tooth can lead to emergencies like facial swelling, abscess, severe pain. This can happen at any time like during office hours, late at night at home or during holidays. etc. 

Leaving an infected tooth in the mouth can affect the health of other teeth and also it is not healthy to have infected teeth in your mouth for your general well-being. Evidence suggests that poor oral health is a risk factor for heart conditions, stroke, low birth weight babies etc.

Thus, it is necessary to have an emergency tooth extraction to avoid extra cost, pain, swelling, and much more. Isn’t it true? 

Whenever you are observing any signs of a toothache or infection, you immediately need to head over to a relevant dentist or surgeon right away. Sometimes tooth extraction can be painful and tedious work, but it is necessary to perform such activities to eliminate or reduce the infection quickly. After this, you will have a peaceful sleep at night without any tension and stress. 

Reason for Tooth Extraction

Accident 

In this technology-prone era, accidents are happening abruptly, which further leads to severe consequences like dental problems, and much more. Thus, the victim needs to seek medical assistance to fix the issues. And if the problem is serious,and the tooth can not be saved, then the dentist will perform emergency tooth extraction.

Risk of Infection

There are various possibilities of having an infection in the tooth, which often requires emergency tooth extraction. Due to your negligence and careless attitude, you confront such situations to eliminate infection from the mouth, as well as to prevent it from spreading. The dentist aims to reduce the chances of additional problems, which can further cause serious issues in the future. 

Excessive Decay 

Trauma or excessive decay could lead to serious consequences like tooth extraction. In most of the cases, damage and decay in the centre portion of your tooth can be troublesome and leads to pain and agony. Bacteria can move deep into the pulp and can cause you an infection. If the response of medicine is not impressive, then tooth extraction is a must.