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6 Reasons Why You May Need Tooth Extraction

Posted by Dr. Julie Boudreault On 12-09-2022

Your teeth are a vital and sensitive part of your mouth. The slightest damage to them may result in excruciating pain or swelling, and, ultimately, their removal to ease the discomfort.

Besides easing the pain that comes with tooth damage, you also want to protect your teeth from infections. With a tooth extraction procedure, you can protect the rest of your teeth and gums by removing an infected tooth. 

While you may have apprehensions about tooth extraction, Milltown dental can ease your worries. We provide tooth extraction procedures in Milton to correct any damage to your teeth, prevent further damage to other teeth, and improve your overall dental health. 

If you are curious about tooth extraction, we have put together six reasons you may need a tooth extraction to help you make the best dental choices.

What is tooth extraction?

Before we jump into why you may need a tooth extraction, you should understand what tooth extraction is and what the procedure entails, so if you decide to get a tooth extraction, you are not clueless and taken by surprise.

Tooth extraction is a dental operation where a dentist removes an infected tooth from the gum using dental forceps to ease a patient's discomfort. To remove your teeth, your dentist must first take a 3D imaging evaluation of your jaw to get enough information about your teeth and come up with the best treatment method.

Tooth extraction is of two types: simple extraction and surgical extraction.

Simple extraction: This procedure is relatively simple and painless. A general dentist administers local anesthesia to numb areas surrounding the tooth and reduces the pain after the procedure. Then, the dentist loosens the tooth and removes it from its socket.

Surgical extraction: Dentists carry out this type of extraction when the affected tooth is inside the gums, as in the case of your wisdom tooth. After numbing your gums to ensure you do not feel pain, an incision is made into the gums, and the teeth are removed.

Reasons Why You May Need Tooth Extraction

1. Impaction: In-growing teeth 

When a tooth cannot grow out completely or at all from the gums, we say that tooth is impacted. Typically, a tooth will not come out from its gums if the space available is too small for the teeth. Instead, it grows inside the gums, pushing against the surrounding teeth and causing pain.

In cases where an impacted tooth only shoots up slightly, plaque buildup is unavoidable as you cannot reach between the teeth to remove debris, resulting in cavities for the tooth next to the impacted tooth. 

An impacted tooth can cause several problems, from dental cavities to gum disease. Hence, a quick tooth extraction procedure is best to prevent further health problems and damage to the surrounding teeth.

2. Irreparable root canal infection

Depending on how severe a root canal infection may be, your dentist may propose that you get the tooth removed. A root canal infection that has eaten deep into the pulp and nerves of a tooth may have to be treated with the extraction of the affected tooth to prevent infection to the surrounding teeth.

We advise that you see your dentist before the infection spreads to other teeth and poses a serious threat to your dental health.

3. Fractured teeth

Accidents like running into a wall, hitting a hard object on the face, or even motor accidents can chip your teeth, disfigure or break them, and damage them beyond repair. You cannot leave a fractured tooth as it is because it may expose the pulp and lead to a root canal infection.

Aside from fractured teeth potentially resulting in dental infections, it causes pain, inflammation in the gums, and swelling around the affected area. Tooth extraction is a quick procedure which relieves you of pain in minutes. As long as you adhere strictly to your dentist's post-tooth-extraction teeth care, you will make a full recovery.

4. Tooth decay

Severe tooth decay is a profound reason you may need a tooth extraction. Over time food particles can accumulate around your teeth and gums, turning to plaque. This plaque harbours germs that cause damage to your teeth by creating holes on the hard surface of your teeth.

An untreated cavity will result in tooth loss as your dentist is concerned with preserving the health of other teeth. If you have concerns about removing your teeth, discuss them with your dentist to ensure a smooth extraction process.

5. Gum disease

Gum disease is a severe infection that causes inflammation in the gums and can potentially destroy the jaw bone. It causes swelling and bleeding in the gums and may cause bad breath in some patients. Your dentist will extract the affected tooth to prevent damage to the surrounding teeth.

Poor oral hygiene causes gum disease, so practicing good oral habits like brushing your teeth daily, flossing at least once every day and regularly visiting your dentist will prevent this condition from happening or becoming severe.

6. Overcrowding

Inadequate space in your mouth for teeth to grow will cause overcrowding in your mouth. Some teeth will try to squeeze in between other teeth, distorting the shape of your dentures and causing impaction. 

In this case, your dentist extracts the culprit teeth to prevent further damage to your teeth.

When do you need a tooth extraction?

If you have one or more of the conditions highlighted above, you may need to get your teeth extracted. However, do not make a personal diagnosis. It would be best to visit your dentist to properly examine your teeth and jaw and discuss the best options for you with your dentist.

You need not worry about any complications after tooth extraction. At Milltown dental, we ensure that our procedures are safe, painless and quick. You will not experience complications if you take adequate care of your teeth after your tooth extraction.

If you have any reservations about the procedure, you can always discuss them with our oral specialists. We will ensure you have a seamless tooth extraction procedure.

To book an appointment or learn more about our tooth extraction services in Milton, call Milltown Dental at 833-318-3281 or contact us here.

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