Month: October 2023

Wisdom tooth extraction is suitable depending on your wisdom teeth’ position and shape. Most dentists advise removing wisdom teeth even if no pain or swelling remains. Your wisdom teeth can be stuck and hurt your jaw if not removed. Your mouth may not have enough space for your teeth or may be at an angle that can harm other teeth roots and gums. 

These days oral surgery for wisdom teeth removal is standard practice. Most of you might wonder if it is essential. There are some aspects in which wisdom teeth can stay as they are. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, erect, and fully erupted, removing them is unnecessary.

Signs You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal

Several signs can indicate if wisdom tooth extraction is a must. Sometimes you may experience pain, swollen areas or cysts, and even extensive damage to nearby teeth. You may also feel extensive tooth decay or infection around the wisdom teeth. 

Suppose teeth remain entirely within the gums. If you decide not to remove the wisdom teeth with Orthodontic treatment, it can impact your jaw badly. Sometimes it results in infection or fluid-filled sacs that can hurt bone support or teeth roots. 

The area is hard to clean if wisdom teeth emerge partially through the gums. This partially visible wisdom tooth extraction is necessary because they can get easily infected. They can attract a lot of bacteria that can lead to oral infection and can be a must when it comes to maintaining good oral health care.

Suppose your wisdom teeth are in a crowded area. If they have no place to come out correctly, they might also damage the nearby teeth. Some dentists suggest not removing wisdom teeth until they fully emerge, while others recommend removing them. It’s better to talk to the dentist and decide after a couple of X-rays.

Why is Wisdom Teeth Removal needed?

When wisdom teeth cause problems or X-rays detect issues, they require orthodontic treatment immediately. Some reasons mentioned here indicate why it is necessary to have wisdom teeth extraction. 

• Damage to nearby teeth

Wisdom teeth might cause damage to the nearby teeth if they are out in a crowded spot. They might push other teeth, damage the teeth’ shape, and even damage the bone support.

• Jaw Damage

Fluid-filled cysts can form around partially out wisdom teeth, which might need orthodontic treatment. If not treated, they can hollow out the jaw and severely damage your bone roots and nerves.

• Sinus Issues

Problems with wisdom teeth can cause extreme sinus pain, a feeling of pressure, and congestion. 

• Inflamed Gums

Wisdom teeth can come at an angle, and tissue around these can swell and harden up. This inflamed tissue is tough to clean up and can cause severe pain.

• Cavities

Swollen gums can create pockets that can cause bacteria growth at the inflamed area and allow cavities to form. Cavities can damage the teeth further and even hurt the bone support.

• Teeth Alignment

Impacted teeth need wisdom teeth extraction immediately to maintain teeth alignment. Crowding and pushing nearby teeth can hurt the gums and you will require dental extractions to maintain good oral health.

Final Thoughts

The decision to remove wisdom teeth is complex. It would be best to have professional advice and tips to make the right decision. A tilted or bent tooth can cause so much damage to your overall teeth’ shape and alignment. With professional dental experts and tests, you can decide what’s best for you. 

A simple surgical process is better than facing extreme pain and discomfort because of wisdom teeth. Visit your dentist and decide what’s best for you. 

Tooth extraction, though common in adulthood, can be a daunting experience. Various reasons such as tooth infection, extensive decay, jaw pain, or overcrowding might necessitate this procedure.

While the procedure can be uncomfortable, healing is paramount before resuming regular activities. Recovery time varies, but typically, a week is needed for healing.

Understanding the procedure, recovery time, and after-care is essential to alleviate anxiety. One common post-extraction concern is dietary choices. This article provides guidance on post-tooth extraction nutrition to promote faster healing and minimize discomfort.

Why Does Diet Matter After Tooth Extraction?

The foods we consume post-extraction can either aid healing or exacerbate the extraction area. It’s crucial to protect the blood clot that forms at the extraction site.

Healing begins immediately post-extraction. Your dentist will apply cotton gauze to the area, and you’ll be asked to bite down. This pressure helps reduce bleeding and facilitates clot formation. Some foods can dislodge this clot, potentially causing infections, dry sockets, or other complications.

When Can I Start Eating After Tooth Extraction?

You can begin eating a few hours post-surgery. The numbing medication used during the procedure takes time to wear off, so it’s best to wait until the numbness subsides before consuming recommended foods.

What and When to Eat After Tooth Extraction?

The importance of appropriate food choices post-extraction cannot be overstated. Here’s a timeline for post-extraction dietary choices:

First 24 Hours: Avoid chewy foods. Opt for:

• Soft-cooked vegetables like steamed spinach, carrots, or squash.
• Soft rice and pasta, possibly combined with soft vegetables.
• Protein-rich foods like fish, scrambled eggs, or lentils.
• Soft fruits such as canned fruits, ripe bananas, and sliced peaches.
• Smoothies made with yogurt, soft fruits, and protein powder.

After 24 Hours: 

You can introduce foods that require some chewing, but avoid eating on the extraction side. Stay away from extreme temperatures, as they can hinder recovery. Avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours, as it can interfere with medications. Refrain from smoking, as tobacco can impede healing.

After Two Weeks: 

Avoid chewing on the extraction side for at least two weeks post-procedure. While you can gradually reintroduce your usual foods, continue to avoid sticky, hot, acidic, spicy, and crunchy foods until fully healed.

Foods to Avoid After Tooth Extraction

During the healing process, it’s best to avoid:

• Spicy Foods: They can cause irritation and pain.
• Acidic Foods: High-acid foods like citrus fruits can cause discomfort.
• Crunchy Foods: Foods like crackers or granola can leave particles that might get lodged in the extraction site.
• Chewy Foods: Foods like pizza, candy, or jerky require significant chewing and can cause discomfort.
• Alcoholic Beverages: Alcohol can negatively interact with medications, hindering recovery.

Conclusion

While tooth extraction can be necessary, pain and complications can be minimized by adhering to the recovery guidelines outlined in this article.

An infection in a tooth’s root requires root canal treatment. This treatment is also called endodontic treatment and is preferred by many patients. Because in addition to keeping the tooth intact, the extractions allow for the use of a dental crown to cover and protect the tooth’s roots.

But not every endodontic treatment is the same. There are many instances in which your treatment might not turn out as expected. It can happen due to various reasons which we will cover later in this article. 

Approximately 95% of root canals work, but occasionally they do not, and an infection may remain. If your endodontic treatment fails, you may experience certain symptoms. There may be symptoms like discomfort around the infected area, discharge, swelling, or an abscess. 

It is likely that you have a failing root canal if you experience any of the above symptoms. It is also crucial not to leave any unsuccessful dental treatment just like that, as this can cause more severe problems later on.

Why does root canal treatment fail?

Upon the failure of this treatment, there are different ways to restore it, for example, dental implants. But before jumping on whether implants are the best option after the treatment failure or not let us see why it happens in the first place: 

Insufficient cleaning: Dentists may have difficulty accessing narrow or curved canals, and if the infection is not fully removed, it can lead to a failed root canal treatment.

Obstruction: When your dentist cannot perform the canal treatment completely due to an obstruction in your teeth like a filling or a crowded tooth, it can result in a failed procedure. Unsuccessful endodontic treatment is the result of the dentist’s inability to reach the area in your mouth easily. 

When you have multiple canal branches: We have multiple canals in our teeth, but sometimes they are hidden behind one another or cannot be seen. The treatment failure can result from a hidden branch that wasn’t taken care of and sealed out completely.

Having a cracked root: Cracked roots are also one of the reasons for treatment failure. A fracture in the root canal may result in a fissure within the gum, making it challenging to fully perform the procedure. It increases sensitivity, and pain and also opens the door to infection.

Lack of proper restoration: Saliva and bacteria can leak into a tooth if it is not restored properly after root canal treatment. If your dentist does not restore your tooth properly, it can become infected again and can cause various other problems as well.

How to deal with unsuccessful root canal treatment?

Now that you know the reasons why sometimes this procedure goes unsuccessful it is time to see what is the next step you should take to restore your teeth. 

Well, there are many options depending on your tooth condition. But generally, people go for either a second root canal treatment or dental implants after a failed procedure.

In most cases, an unsuccessful endodontic treatment is treated by dental implants and they are considered the best option because: 

• Missing teeth can be permanently replaced with implants.
• Implants help to keep the jawbone strong by providing it with proper nutrients, preventing the possibility of it becoming sunken.
• They look and feel like the original teeth.
• Having implants will replace a painful tooth entirely with a natural long-lasting tooth.

A dental implant is one of the many options if you are dealing with failed root canal treatment. But it is not necessary that your dentist will recommend the same.

After analyzing your symptoms like pain, swelling pus, etc., he/she will decide whether you need an implant or not so it is very vital to consult your oral health care provider and then decide whether you need the implants or not.