When Do Teeth Require Extraction?

We believe that with preventive care and routine homecare you can help preserve your smile. However, in some cases, a tooth can become compromised to the point that it requires extraction. Removing teeth can sometimes help address a serious health concern or prevent complications. When do we suggest removing teeth? What does the process involve?

Infections

A dental infection forms when bacteria come into contact with the inner pulp, typically as a result of advanced tooth decay or a fractured/broken tooth. Without treatment, such as a root canal procedure, the infection can cause the pulp to die, which in effect kills the tooth. We need to extract the tooth in order to prevent the infection from reaching the surrounding teeth and jawbone. With all extractions, we will carefully explain the procedure beforehand and administer a local anesthetic. We will also provide detailed postoperative information.

Wisdom Teeth

When people reach their late teens or early 20s there’s a chance up to four additional molars will erupt. Wisdom teeth can sometimes erupt with no issues. However, other times many issues can arise, such as impaction, infection, damaged teeth, and misalignment. Fortunately, we can often remove the teeth in question before they even erupt.

Severely Damaged Teeth

If a tooth becomes broken or fractured, but the damage is too serious for a crown to restore, we may suggest removing the tooth completely. However, we can then discuss replacement options. We have dental bridges and dental implants to replace individual teeth. We can also discuss dentures, full or partial, to address more substantial tooth loss.

Advanced Periodontal Disease (Periodontitis)

In the advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis, the disease can actually cause the connective tissue between our teeth and gums to dissolve. Soon, the teeth can become loose. In some cases, we can’t restore the deteriorating tissue, and the tooth requires removal. However, we can offer treatment to help manage the disease (gum disease is incurable) so that we can place a prosthetic to replace the lost tooth.

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