Why do I Need a Tooth Extraction?

In dentistry, we are in the business of creating healthy smiles and saving teeth. But sometimes, a tooth is beyond repair and needs to come out. Keep reading to find out why.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

If a wisdom tooth is impacted, that means that there simply isn’t enough room in your mouth for it erupt like your other teeth did. So it tries to erupt sideways or at a funny angle. This can cause crowding in the front of your smile and damage the adjacent teeth. If you leave it in, it will only cause more damage. So you need to get it extracted to get your oral health back to a healthy status, and avoid future complications.

Severe Decay

Once a tooth has decay, it forms a cavity. This infection travels down the length of the tooth. Once it reaches the nerve it causes pain, but then the pain can fade away, and you think nothing of it. That just means that the nerve has died, but it is still an infected nerve. Once the infection travels too far down the root into the bone, the tooth is diagnosed as hopeless and can no longer be saved. This is when you need an extraction to remove the source of the infection. Otherwise it can travel directly to the brain and in fact be fatal.

Overcrowded Teeth

Sometimes, there is just not enough space in your jawbone to allow all of your teeth to sit in a balanced and healthy bite. When teeth are over crowded, in order to create enough space for a healthy and balanced bite, some teeth need to be removed. This is of course a last resort, if no other option is available to make the space you need to complete orthodontic treatment, like braces or Invisalign.

Severe Grinding (Bruxism)

If you grind your teeth, then you are essentially wearing through the three layers of the teeth. First the outer layer of enamel, then dentin until finally you get to the nerve which is the core inside. Sometimes, due to severe grinding habits over time, there is simply not enough healthy tooth structure left to restore with a crown. In this case, the remainder of the tooth must be extracted in preparation for other treatment options to the restore the area where the tooth once stood.

If you think you might need any teeth extracted, for any of the reasons mentioned above, then contact us at Presidential Dental Center today. You can set up a complimentary consultation with our West Palm Beach concierge dentist, Dr. Melisande Wolff to find out if a tooth extraction is what you need to get the healthy smile you deserve!