“Can a dentist pull an infected tooth?”
I am a 37 year old male and I have an infected tooth. Can a dentist pull an infected tooth?
2 Answers
You should be on antibiotics prior to the extraction...typically once the tooth is removed so is the cause of the infection...in some cases depending on the severity of the infection you might need to have the swollen area incised and drained. Your Dentist or Oral Surgeon will decide.
Hello,
This is a very good question. Sorry to hear about your infected tooth. Yes, a dentist can pull (extract) an infected tooth; however, there are some times when a dentist has to wait for an infection to clear before he/she pulls a tooth.
A cavity is caused by bacteria on and then in the tooth. By definition a tooth with a cavity is an infected tooth. This cavity can get bigger to the point of reaching and going far beyond the nerve of the tooth. It is still an infected tooth.
However, it may get to the point of an abscess forming. This is when the bacteria have made it to the end of the root and the body is trying to fight the infection. Sometimes while the body is fighting the infection the tissues around the tooth will swell up. It is at this point that the dentist should not pull the tooth. When the gum tissues and some times cheeks swell up due to the infected tooth the swelling inactivates the local anesthesia that is used. This means that it is difficult to get numb. At this point the doctor will usually give a prescription for an antibiotic and have the patient come back in a week when the swelling is gone. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a very good question. Sorry to hear about your infected tooth. Yes, a dentist can pull (extract) an infected tooth; however, there are some times when a dentist has to wait for an infection to clear before he/she pulls a tooth.
A cavity is caused by bacteria on and then in the tooth. By definition a tooth with a cavity is an infected tooth. This cavity can get bigger to the point of reaching and going far beyond the nerve of the tooth. It is still an infected tooth.
However, it may get to the point of an abscess forming. This is when the bacteria have made it to the end of the root and the body is trying to fight the infection. Sometimes while the body is fighting the infection the tissues around the tooth will swell up. It is at this point that the dentist should not pull the tooth. When the gum tissues and some times cheeks swell up due to the infected tooth the swelling inactivates the local anesthesia that is used. This means that it is difficult to get numb. At this point the doctor will usually give a prescription for an antibiotic and have the patient come back in a week when the swelling is gone. Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
