There are many reasons why a tooth can need to be extracted. They’re a fairly common procedure used at many dental offices. Dr. Jose Gil of Hamilton Dental Designs, a dentist in Allentown, PA, explains when you may need to get a tooth extracted.
It’s Severely Infected or Damaged
At Hamilton Dental Designs, we always try to make sure that we take the most conservative approach to try to save your teeth. However, there are times where we’re unable to do so. This is when a tooth extraction is typically performed. Dental crowns are usually the last line of defense before an extraction. If these and other solutions will be unsuccessful, an extraction will need to be performed.
Severe tooth decay can erode away both the interior and exterior parts of the tooth. A root canal is often a solution for infected dental pulp inside the tooth and fillings, inlays, or onlays are used as a solution for the outside. While these measures can help very serious cases of decay, sometimes there are no options left.
Trauma can break or completely shatter a tooth. In many cases, a dental crown can be used to keep the pieces of the tooth together or replace the part of it that had broken off. If the tooth is beyond repair, this is when an extraction will be performed instead.
It’s Needed to Make Space in the Jaw
Extractions aren’t always done because of damage to the tooth. Sometimes they need to be done to ensure your teeth aren’t cramped or crowded. Extracting a tooth can be a solution before seeking orthodontic help. If your teeth are extremely crowded, a tooth can be removed and the remaining teeth can spread back out in the way they’re supposed to.
Wisdom Teeth are Causing Problems
Wisdom teeth emerge in patients in their late teens or early twenties. More often than not, they’ll be recommended to be removed by your dentist. Wisdom teeth often cause problems, as they’re an unneeded extra set of molars. During your regular dental cleanings and checkups, x-rays will be taken to determine the state of the wisdom teeth.
When wisdom teeth come in, they can cause the jaw to be cramped and teeth to overlap or be crooked. If they’re impacted, they’re stuck in the jaw at an odd angle and can cause pain and discomfort. There’s also a tendency to get infections in the space behind your wisdom teeth when you have them.
The Extraction Process
Dr. Gil will determine if the tooth needs to be extracted. If it does, the ligaments holding the tooth to the socket will gently be disconnected. The tooth is rocked back and forth until it can be removed from the socket. Usually, a suture is used to reduce the risk of infection as the area heals.
Tooth Extraction at Your Allentown, Pennsylvania Dentist
Do you think you may need a tooth extraction? Call us or schedule an appointment online.