The Bright Side of Tooth Extraction

While preserving the natural smile is the primary goal of dentistry, sometimes a tooth has to take one for the team and depart. Tooth extraction is a standard dental procedure that most people would much rather avoid but is one that’s sometimes warranted. While it’s a good idea to avoid things that might lead to tooth extractions later, removal can be a great relief. Here’s what you need to know about what makes tooth extractions necessary and why you should be glad dentists can perform them.

Infected Teeth Can Require Extraction

There comes a point of infection where a tooth is beyond saving because dental infections can spread rapidly through the tooth, requiring more dental work in what would probably be a losing effort. These cases can be incredibly and constantly painful. To make matters worse, the infection of one tooth can spread to its neighbors or even lead to secondary infections in other parts of the body. Removing the tooth can provide lasting relief and preserve overall health by eliminating the entire problem.

Sometimes the Mouth Does Not Have Enough Room

Wisdom teeth take up a lot of space and the mouth often does not have enough room when they come in. They can cause a great deal of pain while forcing the other teeth out of alignment. This can also potentially undo years of costly orthodontic treatment. After recovering from tooth extraction, a patient can be relieved of this pain for life. However, some patients are lucky enough to have enough room for their wisdom teeth, making no extraction necessary.

Sometimes One Tooth Can Get in the Way of Treatment

Sometimes teeth are crooked because one tooth that is too big for the mouth pushes the rest of them out of alignment. In these cases, tooth extraction can be necessary for a successful orthodontic treatment because there is not enough room to straighten everything out otherwise. Other times, denture patients have a single remaining tooth in an otherwise empty row. This tooth often must be extracted to allow the incoming dentures to fit properly.

Tooth extraction is usually only used when every other option is exhausted, but it’s an option worth having. Luckily, you can set yourself up to avoid needing a tooth extraction with good oral hygiene including regular brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and dental exams.

About the Practice

Laketown Family Dental is a family-owned dental office serving the community of Norton Shores, MI. Led by Drs. Eric and Ariel Heisser, the skilled staff provides gentle and efficient dentistry with the latest technology. The practice offers treatments for general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to tooth extractions. For more information on the benefits of tooth extractions, contact the office online or dial (231) 737-2273.