Sciota, Pennsylvania
Generally speaking, the team of oral health professionals at Chestnuthill Dental believes in preventing loss of a permanent tooth by all reasonable means. However, in certain situations, having a tooth extracted is the best option for both your oral health and overall wellness. When do these situations occur? Today on the blog, we take a look at five situations in which extracting a tooth actually is the best choice.
What is an extraction?
An extraction refers to any procedure where a tooth is removed from its socket. If extraction requires that incisions must be made into the supporting bone structure, this is known as a surgical extraction, which actually is the most common type of surgery performed in the United States.
When is an extraction the best choice?
Tooth decay: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 90% of American adults between the ages of 20-64 have experienced cavities or decay in their permanent teeth. In most cases, these areas of decay can be repaired through a filling, while more extensive decay can be repaired by replacing the entire exterior of a damaged tooth with a crown. However, a tooth with severe levels of decay has its own set of risks. A badly decayed tooth can become infected. Left untreated, that infection can spread to other teeth or even into the bloodstream, where it could spread throughout your body, affecting your organs and even threatening your life.
Periodontitis: This is the advanced stage of gum disease, which stems from a bacterial infection of the gums. By the time gum disease has progressed to this stage, your mouth has sustained permanent damage. The infection can spread to the periodontal ligaments as well as the alveolar bone—the clinical term for the thick ridge of bone that contains your tooth sockets. Periodontal disease may result in permanent teeth becoming loose, in which case performing an extraction may be the best option.
An impacted tooth: If a tooth becomes impacted, that means it cannot properly erupt from the gum line because it is blocked by existing teeth in your mouth. This often happens with wisdom teeth, which emerge typically when a person is in their late teens or early 20s. Leaving an impacted tooth could damage other teeth, creating cracks that could become infected or compromise the integrity of their teeth. An impacted tooth also can cause crowding in the mouth, altering the alignment of your teeth and even your bite.
Before orthodontic treatment: Before treatment begins through braces or Invisalign, there are times when existing teeth need to be removed to prevent crowding in the mouth once your teeth have been straightened. If you or your child is planning to go through an orthodontic method of treatment, one of our dentists in Sciota can detect any current crowding in the mouth and determine if there is enough remaining room for your teeth to move into a straighter alignment.
Due to an injury or accident: Sustaining a blow or impact to the mouth can leave you with a tooth that is chipped, cracked, or fractured. If you experience a tooth that breaks below the gum line, then an extraction is the recommended course of action. These injuries often can cause extreme pain as well.
Tooth extractions in Sciota, Pennsylvania
If you have a tooth that is bothering you, or another dentist has recommended that you have a permanent tooth extracted, the team at Chestnuthill Dental can help. Make your appointment today by calling (570) 402-7001 or contacting us online.
