It’s easy to feel blindsided when a dentist says you need a tooth extraction. In that situation, you could easily think the treatment advice came out of thin air. Even so, dentists never suggest tooth removal lightly; they always have good reasons for doing so. Your Garland dental practice is even here to share some of them with you. To that end, please keep reading to learn why a tooth extraction can be necessary.
Your Tooth is Infected
While dentists can often save infected teeth, that isn’t always possible. They sometimes have to extract a tooth when its infection gets severe.
You see, an advanced tooth infection is a grave threat to your health. Its bacteria could spread and infect other body parts, leading to serious side effects and complications. For that reason, a dentist may extract infected teeth to keep you as healthy as possible. Not doing so would put you at risk of jaw bone loss, a stroke, or even sepsis.
Your Tooth Has Trauma
Dentists have many ways to restore and repair a damaged tooth – dental crowns, bridges, veneers, etc. Still, they’ll perform extractions when the trauma is truly awful.
Note that restorative dentistry can’t fix every case; it only works when enough of a tooth is left intact. If a pearly white is severely damaged by (say) a flying object or a car crash, it may not be salvageable. In those instances, the best move is to extract it entirely and get a tooth replacement.
Your Gums are Infected
Sometimes, a dentist removes a tooth because your gums are infected. The extraction can then be part of a larger gum disease treatment.
Don’t forget that the gums are meant to keep your teeth secure and stable. If they get infected, they can erode until a tooth becomes pretty loose. A dentist may extract such a tooth to increase your comfort and combat gum disease.
Your Mouth is Crowded
Even if you don’t have a dental infection or trauma, you may need an extraction. Perhaps your mouth is too crowded for the tooth in question.
The truth is that some patients’ mouths aren’t big enough for all their teeth. To be specific, they can suffer from dental crowding – a lack of space that twists or displaces one’s chompers. A dentist will extract a tooth (or more) for such patients to make room for the other teeth. That way, the risk of a crooked grin and other orthodontic issues is reduced.
Clearly, you can need a tooth extraction for various reasons. Consult your dental provider to learn the one that applies to you!
About the Practice
La Prada Family Dentistry of Garland is based in Garland, TX. Led by Drs. Ho, Kang, and Patel, our practice always provides families with high-quality dental care. Whether you need preventive, cosmetic, or restorative treatment, we have the skill and expertise to make your smile thrive! Our team can even extract problematic teeth in dental emergencies. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (214)-227-6577.
