When A Tooth Needs Extracting

Tooth extraction is only done as a last resort in dentistry today. The goal is to keep as many of your natural teeth, and as much of your natural tooth structure when a tooth is damaged, as possible. However, sometimes it is simply necessary. If the tooth is threatening your overall oral health and/or your remaining teeth, an extraction may be in order.

Reasons For Extracting A Tooth

While the most common reason for tooth extraction is to remove wisdom teeth, there are other reasons as well, including:

• When a tooth is broken or fractured below the gum line
• A severely decayed tooth
• When the patient is suffering with advanced periodontal disease
• An already lose or displaced tooth
• To make room for orthodontic treatment
• Overcrowding
• To prepare for denture treatment

Wisdom Teeth

Because wisdom teeth can present so many problems they are often extracted before they even erupt. In many cases wisdom teeth:

• Become impacted, meaning one or more are stuck in your jaw
• Become infected
• Become decayed
• Force other teeth out of alignment
• Crowd your other teeth
• Become painful

As A Last Resort

As stated before, your dentist can use a variety of treatments to restore a cracked, fractured, broken, infected, or otherwise compromised tooth. Such treatments include a root canal, dental crown, dental filling, composite bonding, and more. Your dentist will be as conservative as possible with treatment. However, if he or she feels that the tooth is a threat to your oral or overall health, your underlying jawbone, or your other teeth, their treatment of choice may be extraction.