While it’s true that almost all dentists would much rather save a patient’s teeth than remove any, there are some circumstances where tooth extraction is the only viable option. Fortunately, modern dental methods make extraction no more or less of a challenge for a dentist than any other procedure, although it is up to the patient to follow the dentist’s advice after the procedure to make sure the recovery process goes smoothly. If you’re wondering whether or not you might need to have a tooth extracted, we’ve compiled this list of situations where having a tooth pulled might just be the best choice.
- Severe decay and infection: When a tooth has an extensive amount of decay and an infection that has spread to the pulp of the tooth, many dentists would recommend a root canal. But when the infection is so serious that even a root canal won’t suffice, the dentist may recommend pulling the tooth to keep the infection from spreading.
- Periodontal disease: Patients who have advanced periodontal disease often experience loose teeth and loss of alveolar bone tissue – the bone that anchors teeth in place. In these instances, the dental professional may have no choice other than recommending tooth extraction.
- Impacted teeth: An impacted tooth is one that only partially erupts through the surface of the gum tissue. An untreated impacted tooth can lead to infection and may also cause overcrowding of existing teeth. This commonly happens with wisdom teeth. The best solution for an impacted tooth is often extraction.
- Teeth that have undergone trauma: If a patient has been in some type of an accident and experienced trauma to the mouth, it may be necessary for the person to have one or more teeth extracted.
- Overcrowding: Teeth that are overcrowded — i.e., any situation where a patient doesn’t have enough room inside his or her mouth to accommodate all their teeth – can often benefit from having one or more teeth extracted.
Extraction may not be the first choice by dentists or dental patients, but there are several situations where it may actually be the best–or even the only—choice. To find out more about what’s involved in tooth extraction, and to find out whether or not you may benefit from this procedure, talk to your dentist. Having a tooth pulled may not sound appealing, but it may be the best choice in the long run.
