When to See a Dentist for Tooth Extraction

With proper oral hygiene and health, your teeth can last a lifetime. But that is not always the case. Some situations may arise requiring you to have a tooth extraction. For instance, if you are experiencing a dental issue that does not seem to get better with repair and reconstruction, extraction of the affected tooth or teeth might be the most sensible action to take. 

A dentist can recommend tooth removal in several instances, including crowding, trauma, and disease. Continue reading to learn more about the situations that may require your dentist to extract one or more teeth from your mouth. 

When You Have Suffered Severe Trauma to Your Teeth

One of the common reasons for tooth extraction is trauma or injury to the teeth. Most times, injured teeth result from sports-related activities and accidents. Visiting your dentist as soon as you encounter the injury might be crucial in saving your teeth. The dentist will first examine the injury using the X-ray technique to determine the extent of the damage. Professional dentists will try to preserve the teeth by applying alternative treatment methods such as veneers, bridges, and crowns in cracked or broken teeth. If they prove ineffective, tooth extraction might be necessary. 

When You Have Overcrowded Teeth

Overcrowding occurs when the size of your teeth does not match the size of your jaw. When that happens, you may experience teeth misalignment and bite issues. Several orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign and metal braces, may help to correct crowded teeth. Even so, these options might not work if your jaw does not have sufficient space to straighten the overcrowded teeth. At this point, your dentist might need to extract one of a few teeth to provide room for the others to align better. 

When You Have an Advanced Oral Infection

The first line of treatment for oral infections is medications and root canals. These treatments help to preserve the tooth and prevent tooth loss. However, extraction is a possible treatment option in cases where the infection has progressed. Here, your dentist might need to remove the affected teeth in order to prevent the disease from spreading to other healthy teeth. 

When You Have an Impacted Tooth

Impacted teeth are common in teenagers whose wisdom teeth are erupting. In most cases, impaction of the third molars occurs when there is no adequate space in the jaw. If unchecked, the impacted tooth can cause displacement, tilting, or damage to the other teeth. They also increase the chances of having dental infections in the future. The best way to solve the problem of an impacted tooth is to have it removed. 

Although a dental extraction might cost you one or more teeth, it might save you many complications down the line. However, it is important to seek a professional assessment from an experienced and skilled dentist before getting a tooth extraction.