Most patients are more concerned about the gap the tooth leaves behind than its fate outside their mouths. An extracted tooth usually takes one of the following paths, depending on whether the dentist or the patient claims it.
A dentist usually places an extracted tooth into a sealed bio-medical bag because it retains the patient's oral tissue and blood, which are potentially infectious materials. Bio-medical waste services remove the bags from dental offices and bring them to facilities to incinerate their contents.
If a general dentist pulls a tooth with a filling containing metal, it is necessary to send it to a recycling facility before incineration. Burning a tooth before removing the filling poses a risk of contaminating the air with mercury found in the metal. The metal can be repurposed after it is removed.
Sometimes, dentists send extracted teeth to universities and other institutions where dental students and colleagues receive training. Extracted teeth can help students studying dental diseases and procedures because they present real case studies and practice models.
A general dentist may want to attend seminars and take workshops to learn about new and updated techniques for patient services. By sending extracted teeth to dental laboratories and research facilities, a dentist can help ensure an adequate supply of models to test the efficacy of new procedures before they are recommended and taught.
Patients may want to keep extracted teeth for various reasons. Before releasing a tooth to a patient, a dentist must thoroughly clean it to remove traces of bacteria and tissue.
Some individuals who have extracted teeth with metal fillings or gold crowns may wish to deliver them to scrap metal collectors who reuse the material. These services will reimburse individuals according to the amount of retrievable metal. Teeth containing gold crowns are particularly desirable.
There are many reasons why patients have sentimental attachments to extracted teeth. Although this mostly occurs with baby teeth, adults may occasionally attach a particular meaning to a tooth, making it a desirable memento.
Some patients are intrigued by the removal of teeth from their mouths and want to show them to others. Impacted wisdom teeth are usually large, creating a sense of astonishment that some people feel compelled to share.
A few patients get creative with extracted teeth, using them as display objects, jewelry, or incorporating them into art projects. Although this is not an appealing route for most persons, it does happen. A general dentist must take great care to sanitize the tooth and instruct the patient about its proper handling before releasing it.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp:
General Dentist in Columbus, OH
Tooth extraction is a standard service provided by a general dentist; however, it is considered a last resort for damaged teeth beyond repair or teeth that pose other oral health risks. Patients who want to keep extracted teeth should notify their dentist before treatment.
Request an appointment or call Ohio Cosmetic Dentists at 614-503-5240 for an appointment in our Columbus office.
A general dentist shared some ways to help prevent bad breath. This is a topic no one wants to discuss. Bad breath happens to everyone at one point or another. If you take proper precautions, you can avoid having bad breath. We should openly talk about this taboo topic. The more we talk about it, the…
You can have restorative dental procedures from your general dentist to replace defective or damaged parts of your teeth. Restorative procedures are used to replace broken or missing teeth and are among the most common treatments and procedures that dentists handle regularly. They restore the function and aesthetics of teeth and supporting structures while helping…
One aim of general dentistry is to make the patient’s experience as positive as possible. A dentist who is good at their job will achieve this feat in two ways. First, they will use proactive, preventative measures that keep intensive procedures to a minimum. Second, the dentist will use every tool at their disposal to…
Gums that are continually irritated are more susceptible to gum disease.
Polishing the treated teeth will allow the restored teeth to blend well with the surrounding…
Emergency dentistry can tell you a lot about tooth pain. They can tell you what…
Gum bleeding signifies that you must visit the emergency dentistry office immediately. The dentist will…
For these reasons, prevention is the preferred approach, which is why dental sealants are so…
Seeking an emergency dentistry solution to tooth avulsion must happen right away. In this type…
