When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary? Common Reasons

While a dental extraction is typically the last resort, people may not be aware of how necessary it can be on a regular basis. Plunkett & Chaw Dental will always strive to preserve the health and beauty of your natural teeth and avoid the extraction altogether. However, we must utilize treatment methods that can save a tooth before considering an extraction. The unfortunate reality is there are cases in which treatment does not suffice or no treatment is available. A dental extraction will be necessary for such instances.

Dental Extraction for Severe Pain

If you have severe tooth pain or a sudden ache, do not automatically assume an extraction will be necessary. Schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. We will take a close look at your teeth and gums. We may also take X-rays in an attempt to pinpoint the cause of your pain. Hopefully, a crown or a filling will suffice for treatment. Yet there are certain cases in which oral surgeons insist an extraction is superior to any other form of treatment that could potentially alleviate extreme oral pain.

Extensive Decay and Damage? A Dental Extraction Might be the Optimal Solution

If tooth decay reaches the extent to which it impacts the tooth’s root structure, an extraction may be necessary. We may not be able to restore damaged or fractured teeth since they lack adequate root support. In such instances, we will consider tooth extraction.

Issues With the Gums can Lead to a Dental Extraction

A patient who has advanced gum disease or an infection that antibiotics will not treat faces quite the oral health predicament. In many such cases, extraction proves to be the more effective option. Gum disease has the potential to lead to a bone loss that reduces tooth support. These teeth are often extracted to ensure the patient maintains a healthy and structurally sound mouth.

A Dental Extraction Might Prove Necessary Following the Spread of an Infection

Patients who have an infection should not hesitate to visit the dentist as soon as possible. The patient can notice an infection when feeling an intense discomfort that makes it challenging to chew, bite down or perform other daily activities. The best dentists recommend receiving dental care at even the first indication of a toothache. This allows us to treat the infection prior to the point at which it becomes severe. Those who delay the treatment of an infection will eventually reach the point of no return. After that point, a tooth extraction is necessary. In some cases, extracting the tooth is the only way to eliminate the infection in a timely manner. While an extraction is not the ideal solution, it is better than letting the infected tooth remain and spread the infection to other teeth. Once we extract the tooth, we can replace it with a dental implant, dental crown or another oral health solution. You will be given antibiotics and can move on with life without fearing that an infected tooth will threaten your oral health. This is the peace of mind and healthy mouth every patient deserves. Call Plunkett & Chaw Dental at (770) 452-0222 and schedule an appointment at our Dunwoody dental office.  

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