You’ve always known that taking care of your oral health is paramount. The purpose is to ensure that you keep your permanent teeth for as long as possible. However, certain cases will compel your dentist in Coral Springs to suggest a tooth extraction procedure. Is tooth extraction necessary? How can removing a tooth boost your oral health? Trust us. Your dentist would prefer to save your tooth, and as ironic as it may seem, sometimes taking a tooth out is what’s best for you.
Do You Need a Tooth Extraction?
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction should only be performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon. It’s a quick procedure that’s done in an outpatient setting. Your dental health practitioner may use local, IV, or general anesthesia. There are two types of extraction – simple and surgical. A simple extraction is a method of removing visible teeth. Meanwhile, a surgical extraction is necessary if the tooth is broken or impacted.
Why Should You Get an Extraction?
Impacted Tooth
Toot impaction is when one of your teeth grows at an abnormal angle and pushes your other teeth against each other. If you don’t remove an impacted tooth, it will eventually become infected, causing bleeding, tender, red, and swollen gums.
Usually, patients with an impacted tooth complain of pain and swelling around their jaw area. Some of them may even have difficulty opening and closing their mouths.
The usual cause that warrants an extraction is an impacted wisdom tooth. It’s when your mouth does not have enough space for your teeth to grow vertically, so instead, they grow horizontally, pushing the rest of your teeth. If you don’t remove impacted wisdom teeth, you will typically experience more problems in the future.
Tooth Decay
What causes tooth decay? The main culprit of tooth decay is plaque. It is a sticky film that coats your teeth. Plaque is teeming with bacteria. Bacteria feed on the sugars and starches from the food you eat.
They also release acids that slowly eat away your enamel, creating holes in your teeth, and making them brittle and weak. If the decay isn’t treated, it will lead to an infection causing you to experience swelling, redness, and intense pain.
Once it reaches this point, your dentist will be forced to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental prosthesis.
Gum Disease
Like tooth decay, gum disease is also caused by plaque and tartar buildup. If the gums and bone supporting your teeth progressively deteriorate, your dentist may need to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental crown or a bridge to protect the surrounding teeth.
Trauma
Facial trauma due to accidents can lead to severe tooth damage. Sometimes the damage is beyond repair, and a tooth extraction is necessary. A damaged tooth can also become infected if not removed. Dentists will assess the extent of the damage and determine if a root canal can save the tooth, but if not, tooth extraction is needed.
Overcrowding
Another possible cause for extraction is overcrowding. Removing a tooth is often necessary to prevent your teeth from becoming crooked. Orthodontists usually advise removing teeth at the back of your mouth to give space for the rest of your teeth to move and align.
Get a Tooth Extraction from a Trusted Dentist in Coral Springs!
Your dentist will never keep you in the dark. If an extraction is needed, your dentist will explain why it has to be done and how you can benefit from it. At the HG Doctors Family, your oral health is our priority. We strive to make your experience with us as pleasant as possible. Contact us today for an appointment.