With more and more patients taking better care of their teeth, as well as the technological advancements made in field of dentistry over the last decade, there are now many restorative options for patients who just a few years ago would be facing tooth extraction.
When Is Tooth Extraction Recommended?
Dentists do not recommend tooth extraction unless a tooth is so badly damaged, impacted or infected that there’s no chance of restoring the tooth with available treatment methods. Of course, there is always an exception to the rule, and in this case, it is when a patient has an overcrowded mouth. If the teeth are too large or the oral cavity is too small to comfortably hold all teeth, it can create crowding and will force the surrounding teeth to be pushed together or to overlap or it can even prevent other teeth from breaking through the gums. In cases of overcrowding, the dentist may recommend extraction, and rightly so.
Other than an overcrowding situation, however, dentists don’t usually recommend pulling a tooth even if it is damaged, as long as it can be restored to a healthy state in some way. This is because when a patient becomes partially or completely edentulous (they have missing teeth), there are other issues that can become a concerning factor in maintaining good oral health. For example, when a tooth is lost naturally or due to extraction, the jawbone that originally supported the tooth will undergo a process called bone resorption.
Bone resorption can occur when the jawbone no longer has a function to perform. The jawbone’s primary duty is to support the teeth. Once a tooth is extracted, the bone no longer has a purpose and the body will start to resorb (dissolve and assimilate) it. The longer the tooth is missing, the more bone will be resorbed. This can cause weakening of the bone structure. Besides bone loss, the absence of one or more teeth may also prompt the remaining teeth to shift out of their proper position and into the empty spaces left by the missing teeth. This will not only affect a person’s appearance, but will also cause the bite to become misaligned.
Replacing an extracted tooth with a dental bridge or denture will prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting, but will not stop bone resorption. However, the placement of dental implants can stimulate new bone growth, lead to osseointegration and help maintain bone density. This makes it possible to maintain bone health even in the absence of a person’s natural tooth.
Generally a tooth needs to be extracted if it is badly damaged by injury or is severely decayed. If a tooth’s pulp, located in the center canal of the tooth beneath the enamel and dentin, becomes infected, your dentist will often recommend that you undergo root canal therapy if he or she believes the tooth can be saved in order to avoid tooth extraction. The procedure will allow you to keep your natural tooth and help prevent associated bone loss. If your tooth is beyond saving in this way, pulling it may be the only remaining option.
The best way to prevent decay and infection resulting in tooth extraction is to take good care of your teeth from an early age. Proper brushing and flossing, along with regular dental cleanings, will help prevent tooth decay and help preserve your teeth throughout your lifetime.
For more information about tooth extractions and restorative dental treatment options, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
