If asked, most people can answer that tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth. However, beyond that, the need for the procedure and how it can affect your oral health are not as widely recognized, especially by people who’ve never needed it before. Because of this, you might worry if your dentist tells you that you have to have one or more of your teeth extracted, which may cause you to hesitate and can leave your smile open to even more serious development.
Extracting the tooth isn’t all there is to it
The first thing to remember about tooth extraction is that your dentist shouldn’t perform it unless there’s a very good reason for it. In fact, because it involves the removal of your natural tooth, it isn’t recommended unless absolutely necessary. This means your tooth is compromised that it can’t be saved or restored, whether it’s from extensive damage, extreme infection, or a positioning problem (such as impaction). Given the nature and extent of this cause, extracting the tooth may not be the end-all of your treatment. For instance, if your tooth lacks support because of gum disease, you might need gum disease treatment to stop it from getting worse, even after you’ve extracted the tooth in question.
You don’t have as much time as you think
Hesitating when you’re advised to extract a tooth is a common mistake, but it’s one that can have serious consequences for your oral health. As a last resort procedure, tooth extraction is often the last chance to stop a condition from growing exponentially worse. Damaged, jagged tooth structure can lacerate or harm nearby soft-tissues, as well as expose nearby teeth to uneven bite pressure and greater risks of damage themselves. If the tooth is severely decayed, the infection inside of it might travel all the way through the root canal and into the nearby jawbone structure. In any case, your condition is already severe enough to require tooth extraction, and we strongly advise not allowing it to get any worse.
You can stem the effects of losing the tooth
Much of the confusion surrounding the need for tooth extraction is the fact that your dentist has always told you to preserve your healthy, natural tooth structure as much as possible. Custom dental restorations can help you address most issues with your tooth health and structure, which is supposed to help you avoid losing a tooth or having to have it extracted due to structural damage or decay. If tooth extraction does become necessary, we’ll recommend planning on replacing the tooth soon afterward, preferably with a dental implant-supported restoration.
Learn the truth about tooth extraction
Needing tooth extraction is a serious issue, but there’s a lot about the procedure you might not realize. For more information, schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
