One of the commonest dental procedures is tooth extraction but it has repercussions on the dental health and particularly when the extracted tooth is not quickly replaced. While the process is relatively simple, yet there are several long-term side effects of tooth extraction impacting the function and aesthetics. Knowledge of these risks is helpful in making decisions about your dental health.
Why Tooth Extraction Is Necessary
There are cases when teeth might be decayed or infected to the degree that they cannot be repaired with simple procedures such as fillings, crowns, or root canal therapy. In cases of excessive crowding or if the wisdom teeth are starting to affect other teeth in the mouth, the dentist may also suggest extraction. Nevertheless, this procedure should always be the last resort due to the several side effects of teeth removal.
Immediate Side Effects After Tooth Extraction
Right after a tooth is extracted, the body begins the healing process. However, some immediate side effects include:
- Swelling: There may be slight swelling in the area where the tooth was extracted, which resolves within a few days.
- Bleeding: There may be a slight oozing of blood in the following 24 hours. Persistent bleeding is rare since a clot has been formed in the socket.
- Pain: Soreness or pain in any particular area can persist for 2-3 days, mostly responding to simple analgesics.
- Numbness: Mild sensation may be felt for several hours after the operation due to the local anaesthetic used during the procedure.
Risks Involved With Tooth Extraction
There are several risks and tooth extraction complications that may arise, both during and after the procedure:
- Infection: The extraction site may become infected if not well cared for, particularly if food particles become lodged in the socket.
- Dry Socket: A condition that is painful where the blood clot breaks and the bone as well as nerves are exposed, thus taking longer for the body to heal.
- Nerve Damage: Numbness or tingling sensation in the lips, tongue, or chin may persist for several months due to nerve injury.
Long-Term Side Effects of Tooth Extraction
The long-term side effects of tooth extraction can impact oral health significantly:
- Tooth Shifting: Adjacent teeth start shifting in the gap left in place of the extracted tooth, resulting in malignment or occlusal problems.
- Jawbone Loss: In some instances, degeneration of the underlying bone occurs due to inactivity as a result of the absence of a tooth, which can lead to changes in the facial structure.
- Difficulty Chewing: Losing a tooth reduces your capacity to chew mainly if it was a molar which has key role in grinding food.
Short-Term Side Effects of Tooth Extraction
While the short-term side effects of tooth extraction are more serious, short-term effects can also cause discomfort:
- Swelling and Bruising: Generally, there may be some inflammation and discoloration around the tooth that has been extracted and this takes a few days to disappear.
- Limited Mouth Opening: There may be temporary difficulty in opening the mouth fully due to stiffness or soreness in jaw.
- Altered Taste: Most people temporarily experience a metallic or salty taste in the oral cavity after the procedure.
Different Types of Tooth Extraction Complications
Despite being a common dental procedure, there are several potential complications:
- Sinus Issues: If there is extraction of an upper molar there is a chance of exposing the sinus cavity and this may lead to sinus infections or discomfort.
- Fractured Jaw: Rarely in elderly patients or those with osteoporosis the jawbone could break during the procedure.
- Infection: It is very important to keep good oral hygiene especially while recovering from the surgery since you may develop an infection around the site of extraction.
- Prolonged Bleeding: Sometimes, the bleeding at the extraction site persists longer than it should, and this could be due to a clotting disorder in the individual or a regular use of blood thinning products.
- Root Fragments: Small fragments of the root may remain, and may need a separate surgery to be extracted.
- Swelling and Bruising: An excessive inflammatory response and/or development of ecchymosis, particularly in more extensive and complex extractions, may predispose patients to slow healing and discomfort.
- Damage to Adjacent Teeth: At times, during the extraction, some of the adjacent teeth or other dental prosthetic works like crowns or fillings may get chipped or cracked needing extra dental procedures.
Conclusion
Even when there are many reasons that may require an extraction of a particular tooth, it is crucial to note some short-term and long-term side effects of tooth extraction. From tooth shifting to jawbone loss, the consequences of not replacing an extracted tooth can be significant. Consulting with your dentist about replacement options, such as dental implants or bridges, can prevent complications and preserve oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Failure to replace a missing tooth can also cause teeth to shift, become misaligned or even lead to deterioration of the jawbones, thus, affecting your facial structure over time.
Yes, this is true as the loss of a tooth compromises the jawbone leading to facial sagging and premature aging as the bone no longer receives any stimulation from the tooth.
When a tooth is extracted, the bone surrounding no longer receives stimulations it once used to experience which imply that the bone will progressively lose its density and volume.
Yes, when you are left with a few molars, chewing becomes an issue and so is the speech if the position of the teeth changes.
It is advisable to replace the missing tooth immediately after socket healing which can take about 3-6 months so as to avoid bone resorption and tooth migration.
Yes, dental implants, bridges, or dentures for the missing tooth will help the adjacent teeth not to shift in the position of the extracted tooth.
