An extraction is the last option for a dental professional to treat tooth problems. Tooth extraction refers to completely removing one or more teeth from the jaws. Your tooth must be extracted if it cannot be repaired or is severely decayed. Your mouth becomes susceptible to infections and pathogens if you choose not to have a tooth extracted. The likelihood of an abscess increases if an infected tooth persists in the mouth. A tooth abscess is a pus-filled cavity caused by bacteria that spreads the infection to other areas of the cranium. Before extracting your tooth, dentists treat the underlying conditions, such as conducting root canals, eliminating cavities, or any other treatment.
What Are the Signs That Indicate a Tooth Needs to Be Extracted?
Tooth pain, mandible pain, and a history of recurring periodontal disease indicate that a tooth should be extracted. Extraction is necessary when there are no available treatments to save the tooth and you are experiencing pain or infection. If your tooth becomes severely decayed, extraction will be necessary. Dentists recommend tooth extraction if a tooth is beyond restoration. The extraction of a molar is essential to maintain oral health. A tooth that is compressed or impacted must be extracted to prevent pain and infection. Your dentist evaluates the condition of your teeth to determine whether tooth extraction is necessary.
Severe Tooth Decay
A tooth with extensive decay must be extracted to prevent infection throughout the mouth. Tooth decay is the deterioration of dental enamel, the tough, outermost layer of teeth. The development of a cavity on a tooth constitutes dental decay. A cavity is a chronically injured area of a tooth that generates a hole. A cavity develops due to excessive sugar consumption or poor oral hygiene. Untreated severe tooth decay results in tooth loss and infections. Extreme dental decay can be identified by tooth discoloration or the presence of cavities.
Impacted Tooth
A tooth that is impacted and causes discomfort must be extracted. A tooth that has not emerged from the tissues or grown into its proper position is impacted. A tooth that did not develop normally can cause discomfort in the gums, mandible, and cranium. An impacted tooth must be extracted in order to prevent discomfort and harm to the surrounding teeth.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection that affects both the gums and the bones that support the teeth. Severe periodontal disease results in toothaches, edema, and hemorrhaging. When periodontal disease has progressed beyond the point of correction, tooth extraction will be necessary. Plaque buildup on the teeth and poor oral hygiene practices cause gum disease. Untreated gum disease results in tooth loss and the spread of infection.
Teeth Overcrowding
Overcrowded teeth that are causing distress must be extracted. Teeth crowding occurs when the mandible has insufficient space for all the teeth to align normally. Crowded teeth make oral hygiene more difficult and foster the development of pathogens.
Infection
An infected tooth causes pain and profuse hemorrhaging in the mouth. A severe dental infection results in a tooth abscess, a pus-filled pocket caused by bacteria. Untreated tooth infections result in an infection that causes discomfort in other areas of the cranium. Tooth extraction is frequently the dentist’s last resort. Tooth extraction eliminates the infected tooth, alleviates discomfort, and creates space for a healthier smile.
Accident
Accidents and sports injuries can cause a healthy tooth to loosen or slide out. It is possible to save an intact molar through reattachment. However, sometimes an accident causes the tooth to be irreparable. In this instance, tooth extraction is essential to the healing process. Otherwise, a damaged tooth may become severely infected, necessitating an excruciating procedure such as a root canal.
Is It Better to Save a Tooth or Extract It?
When your tooth is too damaged to be repaired, a dentist may need to extract it. However, saving it could be an option if the tooth is not severely infected. Opting to save your tooth helps you maintain your appearance and avoid a gap in your smile, while also potentially saving you cost of tooth extraction. Refusing a tooth extraction could cause infections and bacteria to spread throughout your mouth. Infection can increase the risk of an abscess, a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. Leaving an abscess untreated can cause the infection to spread to other parts of your head.
What Happens if Teeth Are Not Extracted?
Choosing not to get a tooth extraction when needed allows bacteria to spread, resulting in serious infections that can damage the surrounding teeth and gums. This can cause pain in other parts of your head and negatively impact oral health.
What is Considered an Emergency Tooth Extraction?
You should seek an emergency teeth extraction for unbearable tooth pain from severe infection. An emergency tooth extraction is necessary when a tooth must be extracted within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. You can contact your dentist to schedule a routine appointment for a non-emergency tooth extraction. Visit a dentist immediately if you are experiencing severe tooth pain or excessive hemorrhaging.
Does Gum Disease Go Away When Teeth are Removed?
No, tooth removal will not eliminate periodontal disease. If you do not practice proper oral hygiene or receive treatment for gum disease, it can continue to spread.
Is It Better to Extract a Decayed Tooth?
Certainly, it would be beneficial for you to have your decayed tooth extracted. If you choose not to extract an infected tooth, you run a greater risk of infection and bacterial dissemination throughout your mouth.
What Happens to the Cavity After Tooth Extraction?
After tooth extraction, the cavity in your tooth is eliminated. After a tooth with a cavity has been extracted, the resulting temporary opening must recover and be filled.
What to know about Tooth Extraction besides reasons for it?
Tooth extraction is a common dental procedure that involves removing a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. Besides understanding the reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted and the process of removing a tooth, it’s important to know that there are different types of extractions, including simple and surgical. Additionally, aftercare instructions and potential complications, such as dry socket or infection, should also be discussed with your dentist.
Dr. Peter S. Young at Premier Dental Esthetics is a committed dentist who strives to enhance the health of his patients’ teeth. He will assist you throughout the tooth extraction procedure and work with you to restore your oral well-being.
