The Reasons Behind a Tooth Extraction
Now let’s take a look at just why it is that you may need to have a tooth extracted. The most typical reasons are as follows:
Excess Damage
There are a number of ways that a tooth can get damaged. In some instances, an accident or a fall can break or damage a tooth so severely that the only option is to remove it. In other cases, it is advanced decay that is to blame for a tooth needing to be extracted. When there is just too much damage to fix, many dentists will recommend an extraction.
Significant Infection
The area within the tooth, such as the root canal, can become infected and there is the opportunity for this infection to spread. Now, it is possible for this area to be disinfected and plugged up – this is known as a root canal. However, if the infection has spread too much, a dentist may need to perform an extraction to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an oral health condition that affects the gums and sometimes the bone surrounding a tooth. If the problem advances, the gums may become compromised, leading to shaky or loose teeth. Here, too, a dentist may decide to simply remove the teeth ahead of time.
Overcrowding
Some people experience crowded teeth. This, in essence, is when your teeth are too big for your mouth, causing them to be pushed together. To make sure that your teeth are aligned properly, your dentist may strategically pull out one or more teeth. There will then be enough room for the remaining teeth to sit straight. This is also a procedure that dentists will turn to if they need to prep your mouth for orthodontic treatments. They may need to do this before they can use other tools to correct the alignment of your teeth.
Impacted Teeth
In certain instances, a tooth is prevented from coming out of the gum. The most well-known example of this is wisdom teeth. When this happens, there is an increased risk of infection as well as overcrowding. So, depending on the outcome, the dentist may recommend removing these teeth.