Gentle Removal for Optimal Oral Health Care
Sometimes it is necessary to extract a tooth. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Extractions are commonly performed in cases where a deciduous “baby” tooth is reluctant to fall out, a severely broken down and non-restorable tooth is present, or “wisdom tooth” is poorly positioned and unable to fully erupt into place.
To reduce any anxiety and insure patient comfort whenever a tooth extraction is necessary, the procedure, the post-surgical instructions, as well as any restorative follow-up care will be carefully and completely explained.
There are various common reasons for which our office may suggest tooth extraction.
- An over-retained deciduous tooth, also known as a "baby" tooth, can become severely decayed or damaged. Normally, a baby tooth will naturally fall out when the permanent tooth starts to emerge. However, there are cases where a baby tooth remains firmly attached to the bone. This can occur if the roots of the baby tooth do not shrink as they should or if the baby tooth becomes fused to the supporting bone. The problem with keeping baby teeth for too long is that it can impact the development and alignment of your child's smile. As we monitor your child's smile as they grow, we will inform you if and when it becomes necessary to remove a baby tooth in order to allow the permanent tooth to come in correctly.
- If a tooth has severe decay and cannot be saved, it may need to be extracted. Neglecting a small defect on the outer enamel layer can lead to damage of the healthy tooth structure and reach the inner layers. This can result in irreversible nerve damage, dental infection, and have serious consequences for your oral health and overall well-being. In situations where the tooth has experienced extensive structural damage and cannot be saved, a dental extraction may be required.
- If a tooth is severely fractured or cracked and cannot be fixed, it may need to be extracted. Different types of chips, cracks, and fractures can affect teeth, and the extent of the damage will determine if the tooth can be saved and what treatment is required. If too much of the tooth structure or the root is damaged, extraction might be the necessary solution.
- Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can cause problems if they are not properly positioned, impacted by other teeth, or decayed. These teeth are the last to emerge in the mouth and often face issues such as lack of space or improper development. They can also cause problems for nearby teeth and tissues. While older individuals may be advised to have their wisdom teeth removed, it is more commonly recommended to remove problematic or potentially troublesome third molars in young adults at an earlier stage.
- When the teeth are too big for the jaw, it can result in overcrowded and misaligned smile. In other words, the upper and lower jaws are too small to accommodate all the permanent teeth. To achieve a properly aligned, appealing, and functional bite, it may be necessary to extract specific permanent teeth as part of an orthodontic treatment plan.