Tooth Extractions

Everyone wants a healthy, attractive smile. However, there are times when your teeth can get severely damaged due to various reasons, and no restorations can save them. In such instances, the dentists will evaluate the affected tooth and advise you on whether the damaged tooth has to be extracted.

Tooth extraction is the pulling out of a tooth, and it is a simple procedure. The teeth are fixed to the jaw bone with the help of fibers called periodontal ligaments. During an extraction, the dentists detach these ligaments and extract the tooth by carefully manipulating the tooth.

When should a tooth need to be removed?

There are several reasons why a tooth has to be removed, which include the following:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth: In many cases, a cracked or broken tooth can be fixed using dental restorations such as a crown or veneer. But, there are times when the tooth is so severely damaged that it cannot be saved at any cost. In such cases, the dentist will recommend the cracked or broken tooth be extracted.
• Wisdom tooth or Impacted Teeth: Wisdom teeth are the third molars that characteristically erupt through the gum line at the back of the jaw when a person is between the age of seventeen and twenty-five. In most cases, there won't be enough space for the wisdom teeth to grow out properly. If the wisdom tooth remains entirely or partially covered under the gum line and impacts the adjacent tooth, its extraction cannot be avoided. A dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon in order to extract the impacted tooth. In general terms, tooth extraction is a routine dental procedure conducted by a general dentist. In complicated cases, the patient may be referred to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.
• Loosened teeth due to gum disease:Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease. The bacteria can attack the gum tissue, just like the bacteria in your mouth attacks the tooth's enamel and create cavities. These bacterial attacks on the gum line can cause it to pull away from the tooth and erode the ligaments holding the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or necessitate an extraction.
• Braces Treatment:For some people, the jaw would be too small to hold all the teeth in proper alignment. The teeth can crowd each other, shifting them out of position. When this comes about, the dentist may have to extract a tooth to make space for the other teeth. Frequently, the extraction of a tooth is followed up by orthodontic treatment, including braces, to align the remaining teeth properly.
• Stuck Baby Teeth:The baby teeth have to fall naturally when a child reaches a certain age. However, sometimes the baby tooth obstinately stays instead of falling out by itself. When this occurs, the erupting permanent tooth beneath becomes stuck. Having the baby tooth pulled by the dentist will allow the permanent tooth to grow in.

Call Winning Smiles family dentistry at (301)868-2004 or schedule an online appointment to know more about Tooth Extractions.