Strong, healthy teeth are the highlight of any smile. It’s no wonder that both dentists and patients work to preserve teeth through consistent oral care. When we see patients, we see all degrees of oral health. Sometimes, despite best efforts, there are times when tooth removal becomes necessary. Here are a few examples of when a tooth extraction is necessary.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
Severe Damage to the Tooth
Teeth are tough, but they aren’t impervious. Accidents can cause them to crack, break or loosen. Decay can eat away at them, leaving them weakened and brittle. In addition, health issues like bruxism, acid reflux disease and diabetes can cause problems for your teeth. While there are many treatments that can save troubled teeth, if the damage is too severe, the tooth may need to be removed. In some cases, a simple extraction where you have the tooth pulled while under local anesthesia will do the trick. However, broken tooth extraction can be tricky. Oral surgery may be necessary.
Severe Damage to the Jawbone
Occasionally, the tooth isn’t the problem. When infection or injury destroys the portion of the jawbone that forms the socket that holds the tooth in place, an extraction may be needed. If an unexpected event like a car accident or collision on the athletic field triggers the issue, then an emergency tooth extraction may be required. In other cases, years of struggling with dental issues eventually reach the point of no return. Then, the extraction is often a planned response that paves the way for future restoration work.
Impaction
An impacted tooth is one that either does not or cannot emerge from the gums. Although you may not see them, impacted teeth can negatively impact your bite and cause pain. What causes impaction? Baby teeth may linger instead of falling out to make way for permanent teeth. Other teeth or gum cysts may block the eruption of teeth. Alternately, the impacted tooth may be in the wrong position. While any tooth can be impacted, wisdom teeth seem particularly prone to the problem. Wisdom tooth extraction is a common procedure. Since impaction keeps the tooth below the gumline, this type of extraction is normally a surgical tooth extraction. In this situation, an oral surgeon creates a small incision in the gum tissue so that they can access and remove the troubled tooth.
Tooth Overcrowding
Overcrowding can lead to teeth that overlap or sit at strange angles. This tends to make daily oral care more difficult, increasing the risk of decay. It can also cause problems with your bite. To further complicate matters, it can set the stage for impaction. Extraction allows a dentist or orthodontist to make room for your teeth to move into healthier positions.
At Wekiva Dental, we thrive on creating healthy, beautiful smiles. However, our top priority is always the well-being of our patients, so we work hard to make every visit to our office as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We use a blend of professional expertise, modern technology and good, old-fashioned caring to ensure your comfort and safety. When tooth extraction is recommended, we’ll explain why and answer your questions fully. We’ll also educate you about future treatment and restoration options. How can Wekiva Dental help you? Contact us today at 407-869-7333 to learn more about our services or make an appointment.