As an adult, your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. But things happen and sometimes an extraction is necessary. In this blog we are reviewing five reasons a tooth extraction could be needed.
The good news is, we make tooth removal as easy and pain-free as possible! Dr. Rick Barfield has performed many extractions in his 30-plus years of practicing dentistry, so you know you’re in skilled hands. We use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable, and you can also receive dental sedation if you want it.
If you think you may need a tooth extraction, call us ASAP at 972-905-9266.
Tooth Decay Can Cause Irreparable Damage
Once tooth decay reaches the center of a tooth, called the pulp, the bacteria produced by the decay can cause an infection. Once an infection takes over a tooth, the damage can become too severe to save the tooth.
If the tooth can be saved, a root canal procedure may help treat the infection. But if the infection is left untreated for too long or results in too much damage, a tooth extraction may be necessary to keep the infection from spreading.
You Can Lose Teeth to Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums, ligaments, bone, and other structures surrounding the teeth. The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria in plaque. Plaque is the sticky substance that builds up on your teeth when you go too long without brushing your teeth. If gum disease is left untreated for long enough, it can result in a tooth becoming loose. A loose tooth, wrecked by gum disease, often needs to be extracted to save the surrounding teeth and keep the infection from getting worse.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Problems
A tooth is impacted when it is stuck beneath the gums or blocked from coming out. Most often, this occurs with wisdom teeth. Wisdom tooth removal is a common procedure, though not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. But when a wisdom tooth is impacted, tooth extraction is recommended.
By removing impacted wisdom teeth, we can lower your risk of infection and prevent issues like overcrowding. An examination is required to determine whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed.
You May Need to Give Your Other Teeth Space
Another possible reason for extracting a tooth is to prevent or eliminate overcrowding. Commonly, a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment will lack the room needed for their teeth to move and realign to fix their smile.
In some cases, a tooth extraction will give the rest of your teeth the space they need to align properly, resulting in a straighter, healthier smile.
You May Need a Tooth Extraction Due to Trauma
In the event of injury or trauma to the mouth, our first option is to save your teeth. Whenever possible, we will use whatever treatments or solutions we can to preserve your smile. However, in some cases, the tooth cannot be saved and an extraction is required to avoid infection and protect your remaining teeth.
At 1st in Smiles, we work hard to preserve your teeth for as long as possible. When a tooth extraction is necessary, we go to great lengths to make sure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the process.
With decades of experience between us, you can trust that our staff will take good care of you. Call our Plano, TX office at 972-905-9266 to see how we can help you. If you haven’t yet, be sure to schedule your next checkup and cleaning. We look forward to hearing from you.
