When is a tooth extraction recommended?

A tooth extraction is an oral surgery performed by a dentist that removes all of a tooth, including its roots. This procedure can be necessary for a few reasons. Diseased or damaged teeth are commonly extracted when they cannot be saved with endodontic care (root canal therapy) and restorations. Wisdom teeth removal is common, too, because retaining third molars contributes to a host of oral health concerns.

Abscessed Teeth

Diseased and abscessed teeth might need to be removed to protect the health of adjacent teeth along with the entire oral health system. The infection that accompanies an abscessed tooth can spread throughout the mouth and even enter the blood stream. Moreover, abscessed teeth produce moderate to severe discomfort. Removing infected teeth will improve a patient’s quality of life and prevent health problems related to abscesses.

Broken Teeth That Can’t be Saved

Sometimes a dental injury can cause our teeth to break beyond the point of repair. For instance, if a tooth breaks off at the root, it might not be feasible to place a restoration like a crown. When a broken tooth cannot be saved with a restoration, it might be surgically removed to prevent future complications.

Replacing Extracted Teeth with Dental Implants

While tooth extractions aren’t the most pleasant of reasons for visiting the dentist, teeth can be replaced. Dental implants make for very lifelike and comfortable prosthetics. Implants replace the roots of teeth and hold restorations like crowns and bridges that look identical to natural tooth structure.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are typically removed as a precautionary measure. When these teeth emerge, they tend to become stuck in the gums. This is because these teeth emerge during adulthood, when the rest of a patient’s teeth are well established. Since wisdom teeth have little room to emerge, they can cause teeth to shift out of alignment as well as increase a person’s risks for cavities and gum disease because they are difficult to keep clean.

Retaining wisdom teeth contributes to quality of life issues as well. Keeping these teeth can cause orofacial pain and headaches.

Call our team at Thompson Dental to ask questions or schedule an appointment.