A missing tooth leaves a large enough gap for other teeth to shift. You may also have difficulty chewing and may experience a problem with malocclusion (bad bite). These difficulties can be alleviated with dental implants, fixed bridges or dentures.
After a tooth extraction, a blood clot forms where a tooth had once been. It is important not to dislodge the blood clot because it aids in healing. Disturbing the clot can result in a dry socket — a painful condition that may or may not heal by itself. Some swelling and light bleeding may occur over the next 24 hours.
A dental extraction (also referred to as tooth extraction, exodontia, exodontics, or historically, tooth pulling) is the removal of teeth from the dental alveolus (socket) in the alveolar bone. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, but most commonly to remove teeth which have become unrestorable through tooth decay, periodontal disease or dental trauma; especially when they are associated with toothache. Sometimes wisdom teeth are impacted(stuck and unable to grow normally into the mouth) and may cause recurrent infections of the gum (pericoronitis). Inorthodontics if the teeth are crowded, sound teeth may be extracted (often bicuspids) to create space so the rest of the teeth can be straightened.
Tooth extraction is usually relatively straightforward, and the vast majority can be usually performed quickly while the individual is awake by using local anesthetic injections to eliminate painful sensations. Local anesthetic blocks pain, but mechanical forces are still vaguely felt. Some teeth are more difficult to remove for several reasons, especially related to the tooth’s position, the shape of the tooth roots and the integrity of the tooth. Dental phobia is an issue for some individuals, and tooth extraction tends to be feared more than other dental treatments like fillings. If a tooth is buried in the bone, a surgical or trans alveolar approach may be required, which involves cutting the gum away and removal of the bone which is holding the tooth in with a surgical drill. After the tooth is removed, stitches are used to replace the gum into the normal position.