In an ideal world, it’s always best to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. But, in reality, that isn’t always feasible. Fortunately, the anticipation of having an extraction is often worse than the procedure itself, and there are numerous ways to replace the missing tooth afterward.
At Chester Family Dentistry, our skilled and dedicated team conducts tooth extractions and offers several tooth replacement options. Although having a tooth removed may seem like a difficult and painful procedure, we assure you that modern techniques have made the process relatively simple and pain-free.
What are some of the reasons you may need a tooth extraction?
Did you know gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss? This condition develops when bacteria-filled plaque remains on your teeth. When plaque hardens, it becomes tartar, and it doesn’t take long to work its way beneath your gums.
Over time, the bacteria in the tartar start to cause your gum tissue to deteriorate, but it doesn’t stop there. It can even cause problems with the bones and ligaments supporting your teeth. As this occurs, your teeth begin to loosen and move when you speak or chew. At this point, an extraction is often the best course of action.
Sometimes, an injury beyond your control leads to an extraction. If you sustain trauma to your mouth that damages a tooth, you may end up needing to remove the tooth entirely. For example, you may break a tooth in a car accident or simply by biting down on hard food.
Your treatment depends on how much tooth remains. Sometimes, a dental crown can protect what’s left of your natural tooth. But if you don’t have enough tooth or only an irregular section remaining, we could recommend extraction. In these cases, extracting the damaged tooth and replacing it with an implant or bridge could restore normal function and appearance.
When a tooth successfully breaks through the surface of your gum, we refer to it as “an erupted tooth.” If it does not, you can end up with an impacted tooth — a common problem seen with wisdom teeth.
This may not seem like a big deal, but impacted teeth can cause issues. To start, you could have a higher likelihood of developing gum disease or cavities. It can also make it harder to properly clean your teeth because an impaction can move your other teeth out of position.
Finally, impaction can also cause pain, swelling, and bleeding. Removing the impacted teeth can restore function, relieve your symptoms, and lower your risk of complications like tooth decay.
Last but not least, if you don’t have enough room in your mouth, your teeth can overlap, twist, or bunch up. Teeth that are overcrowded because of having a small jawbone or large teeth can cause misalignment.
Although braces and aligners can correct these alignment issues, extracting one or more teeth before starting treatment gives your teeth enough space to move into their ideal positions.
Curious to learn more about extractions or tooth replacement options? Our Chester Family Dentistry team welcomes people in Warren, Ohio, and the surrounding Trumbull County area. Contact our office by calling 330-33-9026 to schedule a consultation today.
