Are you concerned about the health of a particular tooth? Be sure to get it evaluated right away by Dr. David Erdman in Fort Lauderdale, FL. While tooth extractions are undesirable, sometimes they are necessary.

Why would you need an extraction?

Despite our best efforts, teeth can fail. Maybe you irretrievably break a tooth in a fall or car accident. Or, a molar has had repeated root canal therapies and is loose or cracked. Perhaps decay and infection invaded your jaw bone. All these circumstances may require extraction.

Additional reasons include:

• Wisdom tooth impaction, or encasement in bone and gum tissue
• Teeth may be too large for the size of the upper or lower jaw and extraction would create room for proper alignment
• Advanced periodontal disease has loosened teeth and deteriorated the supporting soft and hard tissues
• Baby teeth impede the eruption of adult teeth or stand in the way of orthodontic treatment

Whatever your circumstances, rest assured Dr. Erdman exhausts all restorative treatment possibilities before recommending extraction. Plus, as a dental implant expert, he may wish to begin tooth replacement with one of these modern prosthetics as soon as possible to maximize your appearance, oral function and bone structure.

Extracting a tooth

Many extractions are simple, requiring locally injected anesthetic, gently rocking with a handheld elevator and removal with a forceps. Other extractions require oral surgery with the benefit of local anesthetic in conjunction with sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Sutures close the operated area.

Afterwards, your home care will involve:

• Rest for at least a day
• A soft diet for several days
• Over the counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Ice to your jaw
• Avoiding drinking with a straw or rinsing and gargling so the blood clot remains intact, says MedicalNewsToday.
• No smoking
• Keeping your head elevated

Find out more

If you have a troublesome tooth, contact Dr. David Erdman in Fort Lauderdale for a consultation. If an extraction is in your future, you'll receive the finest care to improve your oral health. Call our office team at (954) 564-1605.