That may seem like a silly question but with today’s advanced dental technology there are so many ways to save teeth, do dentists ever really need to pull them? The answer is, yes. There are still reasons that a patient may need a tooth extraction. However, today, tooth extractions are only performed when all else fails (not counting wisdom teeth, of course). In today’s blog we discuss why dentists still pull teeth.
Reasons for Tooth Extractions
Believe it or not, there are several reasons why a patient may need a tooth extracted. When it comes to wisdom teeth, the reason is usually space. If there is not enough space for wisdom teeth to erupt, they can become impacted (stuck in your jaw); they may erupt crooked or slanted, or they may only partially erupt. All of these scenarios can cause pain, infection, and/or negatively affect your existing teeth. Other reasons for extraction include:
Periodontal disease: Periodontal disease affects the surrounding gum tissue, ligaments, and bone that hold your teeth in place. When these are compromised, it can lead to loose teeth, lost teeth, or the need for tooth extraction.
Overcrowding: Teeth may need to be removed to improve the health of your dental alignment.
To prepare for braces: Sometimes one or two teeth need removal so the other teeth will have room to realign during orthodontic treatment.
To prepare for dentures: If you only have one or two healthy teeth in place on your upper or lower dental arch, those teeth will need extracting to prepare for dentures.
Infection/damage: If your tooth is too severely damaged or infected for successful root canal therapy, extraction may be the only option to protect your oral and overall health.
