Can an emergency tooth extraction relieve tooth pain?

Tooth pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. However, toothaches do not always mean immediate tooth extraction. Tooth pain, whether mild or severe, is a symptom that many patients should seek almost immediate help from a Chester Springs, PA dentist. Our caring team and dental experts at Byers Station Dental want to help anyone with this issue get to the root of the pain and stop it as quickly as possible. Read on to learn why permanent tooth loss is not always the primary solution to relieve a patient's discomfort.

What is a tooth extraction procedure?

Teeth are firmly encased in sockets surrounded by gum tissue and held in place by ligaments. Our dental experts enlarge the socket area with a simple tooth extraction procedure to separate the tooth from the ligament and jawbone area. A surgical extraction is necessary if a tooth has broken at the gumline or erupted in the mouth. A small incision is made into the gum tissue to extract it. A standard procedural method for impacted wisdom teeth or damaged teeth that need to be removed to relieve a patient's pain or discomfort. Whether a surgical or simple tooth extraction is necessary, a numbing anesthetic shot is placed at the tooth, bone tissue, and gumline area to keep patients comfortable during the procedure.

What are the signs you may need an emergency tooth extraction?

When a person has trauma to the mouth area, gum disease, dental abscess, or severe tooth decay, the tooth's nerves die, resulting in toothaches. However, tooth extraction does not stop an oral infection from spreading or going deeper, so a root canal treatment may be needed. Dental treatments may vary depending on a patient's needs and the state of their teeth. An emergency tooth extraction may be necessary if patients are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Painful swelling
• Discoloration or darkened teeth
• Persistent foul taste or bad breath
• Localized warmth in the cheek area
• White pus or fluid in the mouth
• Fever
• Severe tooth pain or sensitivity

How long after tooth extraction can I eat?

After an emergency tooth extraction, you may experience slight bleeding, pain, or swelling. While a simple tooth extraction recovery generally takes about a week, call our office should any symptoms not subside after 24 hours or get worse. Apply ice to the outside area of the mouth to help with swelling and avoid hard, chewy foods. Patients should consume only liquids and soft foods for at least 24 – 48 hours after a tooth extraction, such as yogurt, ice cream, soup broth, pudding, or Jell-O, easing back into a regular diet after a few days.

People tend to think a dentist's primary function is to extract teeth when they are dealing with tooth pain, but the main goal is to save a tooth when possible. If you think you have a dental emergency or are experiencing tooth pain, contact Byers Station Dental in Chester Springs, PA. Our dental team will provide a thorough dental examination to determine what steps need to be taken to resolve your dental issue or if a tooth extraction is needed as the last possible option. If tooth pain affects your comfort, wellness, and health, our dental experts at Byers Station Dental want to see you as quickly as possible.