How Long Can You Delay Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extractions are often necessary to address dental issues, such as decay, abscesses, and impacted wisdom teeth. It’s always a good idea to follow the dentist’s recommendations as soon as possible, but sometimes circumstances lead to delays.

But how long can you actually delay a tooth extraction? Let’s find out.

Tooth Extraction Timing: Why Do We Hurry?

Severity

Sometimes, the extraction has to be carried out urgently due to how severe the issue is, in which case delays are absolutely not recommended. For example, a severely infected or abscessed tooth might require immediate extraction to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body.

Pain & Discomfort

Tooth pain can be quite unbearable. If you’re in a lot of discomfort due to your dental troubles, it’s not a good idea to delay it further. Pain is often an indicator of an underlying issue that should be addressed promptly.

Infections

An infected tooth can result in an abscess, which is dangerous if not dealt with on time. Delaying a tooth extraction here can put your overall health at risk.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth is one that doesn’t have enough space to grow properly. These teeth can cause pain, swelling, and infection, making prompt extraction a recommended course of action.

How Long Can I Delay It?

The length of time you can safely delay a tooth extraction varies depending on the specific dental issue and the associated risks. For severe issues, it’s recommended to carry out the procedure immediately with no delays.

Less severe issues do allow for a couple of days to a week of postponing, but this is usually accompanied by pain and discomfort, so it is not recommended.

Extractions being carried out for preventative or future orthodontic purposes generally allow for a lot more flexibility.

Do I Really Need an Extraction?

Removing a whole tooth isn’t necessarily easy, and it does make some people hesitate. It’s always a good idea to see your dentist and ask them about the issue. The sensitive tooth you may not be particularly bothered by at the moment may be building up to a full-fledged, untreatable infection.

Visit the Duhon Family Dentistry for a dental checkup, and let us take care of your dental troubles for you! With regular checkups, you can catch problems before they escalate and avoid building up to an extraction at all.