Emergency Dental Extractions

What is emergency tooth extraction?

Adult teeth are supposed to last for your entire life, but things don’t always work out that way. If you have a tooth that’s decayed and damaged beyond repair, you may need an emergency tooth extraction, especially if it’s causing you a significant amount of pain. In some instances, teeth can be repaired with crowns or fillings, but when that isn’t an option, an emergency tooth extraction might be the best course of action.

What causes you to need emergency tooth extractions?

There are lots of things that can cause an emergency tooth extraction, including:

• Severe tooth decay, technically known as caries
• Gum disease
• An abscess on your gums or around your teeth
• Impacted wisdom teeth (when the wisdom tooth is unable to break the surface of your gums and gets stuck)
• Trauma to your jaw
• Root fractures or cracks
• Crowded teeth (when there are too many teeth to fit in your mouth or your teeth are too large to fit)
• A broken tooth which is impossible to repair

If one of your teeth is increasing your risk of infection, that tooth may need to be removed, not just because it’s a danger itself, but because it increases the risk for the teeth around it.

Emergency Extraction Procedure

Thankfully, if an emergency tooth extraction is necessary, it’s a fairly common procedure that can be completed swiftly and comfortably with minimal pain. Your emergency dentist will use numbing and will follow up with pain control medication. Your dentist will provide instructions to help manage swelling, such as applying ice, and tell you to avoid intense activity for 1-2 days post-extraction. After your swelling and pain has subsided you can visit your dentist and discuss tooth replacement options to restore your smile. The emergency tooth extraction doesn’t have to be a scary situation, and can save you from bigger pain and trouble in the future.