Reasons for Tooth Extractions

Studies show that loss of permanent teeth is a common dental issue among teens and adults in the United States. The American Dental Association says that losing a tooth may be an unavoidable option even for those who have healthy dentition. Sometimes, tooth extraction is the only way to regain overall health as well. If you want to understand the reasons for tooth extractions, here’s what you should know.

 

Periodontitis

Untreated, periodontal disease can deteriorate the health of your gums, underlying jawbone, and ligaments. Once your gum infection reaches your jawbone, support for at least one of your teeth weakens. Your loose teeth may need to be removed, or they may fall off naturally. Having them extracted is better. This allows your dentist to inspect the rest of your teeth and gums. The assessment allows your dentist to treat your growing gum disease.

 

Dental Decay

This is the most common reason behind many tooth extractions. Lack of proper dental care and poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay. This dental issue develops over time. Sticky bacteria keep corroding the enamel of your tooth. They make their way into the dentin until they reach the root canal. If the decay continues and keeps progressing, your dentist may have to extract the tooth. The removal of your severely decaying tooth helps prevent the spread of the infection to its neighboring teeth.

 

Damaged Tooth

Car collisions, sports injuries, brawls, or even a bad fall can result in a damaged tooth. Your tooth may have cracked, chipped, or dislodged. If your dentist finds your tooth injury severe, you will need a tooth extraction. What follows is usually some tooth repair or an elaborate tooth-replacement procedure.

 

Overcrowding

If your dentist sees that there are too many permanent teeth occupying your mouth, tooth extraction is usually in order. Overcrowding forces your teeth to push against each other, resulting in misalignment. Once your extra teeth are pulled out, your remaining teeth could align properly with the help of teeth-straightening systems, such as traditional braces.

 

Impacted Tooth

This is a tooth that did not erupt properly above your gumline. It formed and stayed inside your gums or may have just erupted partially. The tooth may have grown at an odd angle, or your gums may not be large enough for the erupted tooth to fit. This is usually the case for wisdom teeth. If you don’t have your impacted tooth removed, you will continue to experience pain and swelling. The discomfort may prevent you from eating, speaking, or doing other daily activities. Some cases of impacted tooth extraction usually need incisions so that your dentist could take the entire tooth out. You may need to have stitches after. Talk to your dentist about how impacted your tooth is. That way, you may know the extent of your tooth extraction.



Tooth extraction can improve your dental health and your quality of life. At Rudell Gary S. Jacinto, DMD General and Cosmetic Dentistry, our goal is to provide our patients with high-quality dental solutions. To learn more, contact Rudell Gary S. Jacinto, DMD General and Cosmetic Dentistry in Los Angeles, California at 323-405-9428.