While it is ideal to keep your natural teeth for your entire life, sometimes this isn’t feasible. Circumstances can arise that require some teeth to be extracted. It’s likely that the majority of your teeth will remain healthy for years, especially with proper oral hygiene. However, there are some instances where it is in your best interest to have a dental extraction.
At Reason To Smile Dental in Salt Lake City, we try our best to save our patients teeth from requiring a dental extraction. Of course, instances like wisdom teeth removal will surely arise at some point, the rest of your teeth should not require dental extraction. There are a number of reasons why we may have to do so, however.
Before you call and schedule your next dental appointment with us, let our resourceful staff explain dental extractions.
Reasons for Dental Extraction
Patients are often most familiar with wisdom tooth extraction and this is usually what comes to mind when dental extraction is brought up. And while a healthy set of teeth should not require dental extractions, there are a number of reasons why one may be necessary. Some of the most common reasons for dental extraction are:
Tooth Decay: Cavities have become easier to repair, however, in the case of excessive tooth decay dental extraction may be the only suitable treatment.
Gum Disease: Severe gum disease can cause damage to supporting tissues around teeth. If this progresses, dental extraction may be required once the tooth is irreparable.
Fractured Teeth: Accidents happen all the time. If a tooth is damaged beyond repair as a result of a fall or some other accident, a dental extraction will be required.
Types of Dental Extraction
There are two types of dental extractions, simple and surgical. Simple dental extraction is the easier option. This is only applicable if the tooth in need of extraction is visible in the mouth. Local anesthesia will be applied and we will use special dental instruments to gently remove the tooth.
Surgical dental extraction, on the other hand, requires more invasive techniques. This is required if the tooth has been broken below the gum line and cannot easily be accessed. Often times, the tooth will need to be removed in pieces and almost always require a surgical incision. This is also the method used when removing impacted wisdom teeth. Regardless of the type of extraction you need, we can make you comfortable in the chair with local anesthetic, or if you’d prefer, sedation dentistry can be performed.
Once the tooth has been removed, it will need to be replaced. Usually, a dental implant will be installed once the affected area has healed. However, in some cases, such as wisdom tooth removal, there will be no replacement tooth. In the case of multiple dental extractions, dentures are also a viable option for tooth replacement.
Contact Reason To Smile Today!
One of the best ways to avoid unnecessary dental extractions is to visit Reason To Smile Dental in Salt Lake City. Dental cleanings and checkups are essential for a healthy set of teeth. You can contact us here or give us a call at (801) 719-5447 to schedule an appointment today!
