While your dentist’s top goal is to help you keep all of your natural teeth, there are some cases in which a tooth extraction in Irving may be the best treatment to preserve your oral health. However, there’s no real way to tell if this is what you need until your dentist has had a chance to examine your tooth. Read on to learn four reasons why your dentist may recommend that you receive a tooth extraction.
Extensive Decay
When caught early on in their progression, cavities can usually be easily treated with a minimally invasive tooth-colored filling. That’s why it’s important to visit your dentist every six months for a checkup! However, when a small cavity is left to spread, it can erode the surface of the tooth, causing increased discomfort and sensitivity and even an infection. If your tooth has experienced very extensive decay, your dentist may not be able to repair it. So, to prevent the issue from spreading to surrounding teeth, they may recommend having it extracted.
Advanced Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and similarly to decay, when left untreated, it could cause irreparable damage to your smile. The infection can progress to the extent of breaking down the supportive soft and hard tissues that hold a tooth firmly in place. When this happens, you may notice that your tooth feels loose. If this has occurred, it’s likely that your dentist will recommend extracting the tooth and treating the underlying infection to prevent further tooth loss.
Dental Trauma
When a tooth breaks, whether that’s due to an accident or biting down on something hard, it can put it at risk of becoming infected. If this is the case and your tooth can’t be restored, your dentist may also advise you to receive an emergency tooth extraction.
Overcrowding
Before undergoing orthodontic treatment for crowding, your teeth may need a little extra room in your mouth to spread out. In order to create this space and make sure your results last, your dentist could recommend extracting one or more teeth. This will help keep the surrounding teeth from re-shifting after your treatment so you’re able to achieve results that last.
About the Author
Dr. Rafiq Hirji has over a decade of experience practicing dentistry and is highly knowledgeable in a number of procedures, including tooth extractions, orthodontics, and sedation dentistry. He strives to create the most comfortable and pleasant experience for his patients, regardless of the services they’re receiving. For questions or to schedule a same-day emergency visit, visit Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental & Orthodontics’ website or call 972-546-4114.