Tooth Extraction: Should I Get My Tooth Pulled?

Dentists like to save people’s natural teeth. After all, natural teeth are stronger and better than any alternative, but if there is no possible way to save the tooth and the only option is to have it extracted.

Learning more about what a dentist looks for during a dental appointment will help you understand why getting a tooth extraction may be recommended.

Extensive Oral Tooth Decay or Damage that Makes a Tooth Unsalvageable

There are a number of dental procedures, such a root canals, large fillings, veneers, bridges, and dental crowns, that can help save a tooth after it has been damaged or injured. Unfortunately, sometimes the tooth damage is so extensive that a dentist simply cannot perform these procedures. When this happens, your dentist will often recommend having the damaged tooth extracted.

Dentists take a number of things into consideration when declaring a damaged tooth unsalvageable. Some things they will consider include:

• How much damage has occurred to the tooth?
• How stable the tooth will be after a procedure to save the tooth is performed. Sometimes a procedure, such as a root canal, can be performed, but the amount of tooth that is left after the procedure makes the tooth unstable. Instead of saving the tooth with a root canal, a dentist may recommend extracting the tooth.
• How successful the procedure to save the tooth will be. Some teeth procedures may not be successful which means the tooth will need to be extracted anyways.
• Whether there is a chance other teeth may be damaged or susceptible to problems if the tooth is saved and left in the mouth. For example, tooth decay may be so extensive that there is a good chance it will spread to other teeth. Removing or pulling the tooth will allow your dentist to stop the problem and fix any tooth decay that has spread to other teeth with fillings or other dental procedures.

Infections can Leave a Tooth Unsalvageable and Should be Extracted or Pulled

Dental infections are extremely dangerous because they can spread so fast to other teeth and even other parts of the body. If a dental infection is caught early enough, a root canal may be able to save the tooth. However, if the infection has gone all the way to the pulp of the tooth there is a good chance the root canal may not stop the infection. When this happens a dentist will recommend the tooth be extracted.

Future Possibility of Infection is Also Taken into Consideration after Tooth Extraction

People who have a suppressed immune system, such as those with autoimmune disorders or those undergoing chemotherapy, may have teeth extracted instead of saved with other dental procedures. While a cracked or damaged tooth may be saved, the fact that their immune system is compromised there could be complications. In an effort to prevent numerous health problems from an infection spreading, a dentist will often extract the tooth as opposed to trying to save it.

Help to Correct Dental Overcrowding and Pain

Sometimes the teeth in your mouth don’t grow in the way they should. Sometimes they grow in tilted, slanted, or behind other teeth. When this happens it is called overcrowding. If left untreated overcrowding teeth can cause a number of problems ranging from cracking or damaging surrounding teeth to causing other teeth to shift or slant.

Tooth extraction can help with overcrowding. Once the teeth that are causing the overcrowding are extracted, you can undergo orthodontic treatment to correct the alignment of your teeth.

Don’t Leave a Space in Your Mouth After a Dental Teeth Extraction

Many patients undergo a dental extraction and fail to follow up with procedures that will fix the gap left by the missing tooth. This won’t cause a problem at first, but it can cause problems in the future. If a dental implant, bridge, or denture doesn’t replace the missing tooth the rest of your teeth can shift which can cause other dental problems to occur.

Think you might have a tooth that may need to be extracted? Call Artistic Touch Dentistry to schedule an appointment to speak with a Melbourne Florida dentist. Our dentist will evaluate your case and determine if a dental extraction is needed.