Extraction

1. Irreparable tooth damage due to severe decay

This happens when tooth decay reaches the center of the tooth which is the pulp.  The bacteria produced by the decay can invade the pulp and cause an infection.

In which case, a root canal treatment ( RCT ) may help treat the infection. However, if the infection is severe, extraction may be performed to avoid the infection from spreading.

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2. A viable solution to periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, periodontal ligaments, alveolar bone and other structures surrounding the teeth. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis which is an infection of the gums. The more severe kind of periodontal disease affects the periodontal ligaments and the alveolar bone. Periodontal disease may result in the loosening of a tooth.  

Periodontal disease is caused by a bacteria in dental plaque which is a sticky substance that is formed on your teeth several hours after eating and without brushing. Regularly brushing your teeth and visiting your dentist can help prevent periodontal disease.

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3. Extraction may help an impacted tooth

A tooth is impacted when it is blocked from coming out, or when the gums did not fully erupt preventing the tooth to come out.  This is usually the case for wisdom teeth.

Your dentist may recommend the extraction of the impacted tooth to prevent it from damaging other teeth. Extracting an impacted tooth may also help lower the risk of infection and overcrowding.

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4. To eliminate teeth overcrowding

The extraction of one or several teeth may be necessary to eliminate the overcrowding in the mouth. This is also recommended when the patient has to undergo an orthodontic treatment and there is no room for the teeth to move and realign.

An orthodontist will check on how crowded your teeth are, and if there is enough room for them to move and give your set of teeth a better alignment. Teeth extractions are recommended when there is not enough space to straighten the alignment of your teeth.

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5. Cracked tooth

A cracked tooth will not necessarily cause any symptoms. People often have cracked teeth without even realizing it.

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Some types of cracks are harmless and do not require treatment.

However, if a person notices the following symptoms, they may have a more extensive type of crack that requires dental treatment:

• pain when eating, particularly when chewing or biting

• swollen gums around the cracked tooth

• teeth that have suddenly become sensitive to sweetness

• teeth that have suddenly become sensitive to hot or cold foods

• pain that tends to come and go

• discomfort around the teeth and gums that is hard to pinpoint