Dental techniques have come leaps and bounds over the last century and continue to do so. Thanks to these advancements, we nowadays have a much better chance of saving your natural teeth. Unfortunately, there are still times when extraction will be the best and only way to safeguard your oral health.
So, when is a tooth extraction necessary? Read on as we list the situations that call for tooth extraction and show you why Dr. Mark Civin is the person to call whenever you need a dentist in Palm Beach Gardens.
When Tooth Extractions Become Necessary
Your teeth are great at doing what they are supposed to do, from helping you chew to keeping your jawbone strong. This is why we’d all prefer to keep our natural teeth. Sadly, even with the effective, cutting-edge treatments available, this isn’t always possible.
Here are a few dental issues that make it necessary to extract a tooth.
Severe Tooth Decay
Dentists can manage most cases of tooth decay, especially if they catch the cavity early or in its moderate stage. Treatments like fillings, crowns, onlays, or inlays can effectively restore the tooth’s structure and prevent further damage.
If, however, the decay has reached deep into the tooth and dentists cannot resolve it with treatment, extraction will be the only solution left.
Advanced Gum Disease
Severe gum disease destroys the tissue and bone that support your teeth, causing them to weaken and become unstable. At this point, removing the affected tooth or teeth will go a long way in preventing the infection from spreading and affecting the health of the surrounding gums.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The third set of molars you get in your mid to late teens or early twenties usually cause pain and discomfort. If they don’t have enough room to grow, this discomfort can be much worse; you might even notice a bit of swelling and shifting among your permanent teeth.
Though every dentist’s priority is to save your natural teeth, it’s different with problematic wisdom teeth. Here, extracting them always outweighs the benefits of keeping them.
Persistent Dental Infection
When is a tooth extraction necessary? Dental infections are quite common and treatable with antibiotics and other forms of therapy. Sometimes, though, the infection might not respond to these treatments.
In such a case, extracting the tooth will be the only way to address the infection at its source and stop it from spreading.
Overcrowding
In the event of tooth crowding, your dentist may be forced to extract one or more teeth to create the space needed for proper alignment. This is sometimes the only way you can achieve a balanced smile and healthy bite.
Severe Dental Trauma or Injury
As strong as your natural teeth are, they can still get damaged. Thankfully, there are several restorative treatments you can turn to whenever you experience such an injury.
If, however, your tooth suffers severe structural damage or breaks below your gumline, your dentist might be unable to repair it. In order to prevent pain, infection, and future complications, they will have to extract the impacted tooth.
How Dentists Decide What To Do
These are the steps dentists take to determine whether to save your tooth or extract it:
- Clinical examination: They’ll assess your tooth’s structure, taking your symptoms and medical history into account.
- X-rays and imaging: Advanced imaging helps them evaluate the condition of your tooth and surrounding bone.
- Periodontal charting: This measures the depth of the tooth’s pocket to determine the extent of bone loss.
Seek Expert Advice Today
Are you worried about the state of your teeth? When is a tooth extraction necessary? These are questions we are happy to answer here at Mark L. Civin, D.D.S.
From offering you tailored treatments that restore your smile to helping you understand the connection between sugar and tooth decay, you can feel confident leaving your oral health in our hands. Call us at (561) 624-2224 to schedule an appointment.
