Reasons Why Tooth Extraction May Be Necessary for Your Health
Tooth extraction is usually a last resort, but it can become necessary to protect your overall oral health. Like any good dentist, Dr. Lytha Miller makes every effort to preserve a natural tooth in her patient’s mouth when possible. However, she does encounter some circumstances when pulling a tooth is the right decision. In this blog, she describes some of the reasons she has had to extract a tooth.
Tooth Decay
The most common reason that teeth need to be pulled is infection/decay. Infection that has gone unaddressed for a long time can lead to the tooth no longer being able to survive or function. Early decay (a cavity) can be treated with a filling, while infection that spreads to the center of the tooth can require a root canal. Periodic dental exams are a great way to catch infection early so that treatments can address any problems, but patients who go years without seeing a dentist may get to the point where the tooth needs to be extracted.
Your Teeth Are Impacted
A tooth that does not come in, or only partially emerges through the gumline, is deemed “impacted.” In most cases, impacted teeth are the result of overcrowding in your mouth. Impacted teeth often come in at an angle. While they do not usually cause pain, they can have a negative effect on your smile. The overcrowding can continuously push on the other teeth, gradually shifting your other teeth out of alignment and harming your bite. Impacted teeth are also extra prone to trapping bacteria, which can lead to infections and gum disease.
Therefore, Dr. Miller may recommend pulling an impacted tooth to avoid these consequences. Teeth that are most likely to be impacted are your wisdom teeth since they are the last to grow in and there may no longer be sufficient space in your jaw. However, it is possible for other teeth to be impacted thanks to overcrowding.
Advanced Gum Disease
In early stages like gingivitis, gum disease can be treated and even reversed. However, as gum disease progresses, your gums may no longer have the strength to support your teeth. Adult teeth gradually loosen and may even fall out. If teeth are about to fall out, extraction may be warranted to start treatment for a restorative dental treatment like dentures.
Traumatic Injury to the Tooth
While a crack or a chip is easily repaired, an accident that breaks off a large segment of the tooth may make the tooth unfunctional and unrepairable. If the tooth is too damaged to maintain the bite even with a restorative procedure, Dr. Miller can remove the tooth and offer a prosthetic to better fill that role.
Whether you need to have a tooth extracted, or simply want to schedule your next dental appointment to ensure that your existing teeth do not warrant an extraction in the future, Team DDS New Carlisle is available for all your dental needs. To make an appointment with Dr. Miller and our friendly team, please call (937) 845-9422 today.