Do You Need a Dental Extraction? The Most Common Reasons for One

When you’re young, losing a tooth is an exciting opportunity: it comes with a visit from the tooth fairy, extra pocket money, and the feeling that you’re slowly becoming more mature. Sadly, natural tooth loss doesn’t feel as exciting once you become an adult. Still, dental extraction with an oral surgeon in Panama City, Florida, is sometimes necessary.  

Extensive tooth decay, fractures caused by accidents, and even periodontitis can damage natural teeth to the extent that extraction is the only solution for restoring your mouth to optimal health. Let’s review why sometimes this treatment is necessary and what signs to look out for.

What Is a Tooth Extraction?  

A tooth extraction involves taking a tooth out of its socket entirely. Whenever possible, dentists prefer to save natural teeth. However, sometimes, methods such as dental fillings or crowns aren’t enough to fully restore a tooth to its optimal condition.

It might be necessary to have your tooth extracted if it is too severely damaged to be repaired, which is often caused by issues like:

• Severe tooth decay

• Fractured tooth

• Impacted wisdom teeth

• Crowded teeth

• Periodontitis

• Other dental injuries, such as tooth luxation

What Issues Require a Tooth Extraction?

Unless you’re having an emergency, tooth extractions can only be conducted with your dentist's recommendation and after extensive tests. Improper or rushed extractions will not only worsen the situation but also have a long-lasting negative effect on your smile.

However, some common causes for teeth extractions include:

1. Overcrowding and Impaction

One of the common reasons for dental extractions is crowding. Over time, our jaws have become smaller, so teeth don’t have enough space to emerge. This causes overcrowding, which may affect your bite, cause pain, and foster tooth decay.

An orthodontist may recommend a tooth extraction followed by orthodontia to prevent that. The goal is to create enough space to adjust your teeth and then guide them to accommodate their right spaces.

On the other hand, impaction, the inability of the teeth to grow out of the gums, may also be an issue. It’s especially common in wisdom teeth that don’t emerge fully. The problem with impacted teeth is that they’re harder to clean, increasing the chances of decay and causing pain over time.

2. Periodontal Infections  

An infection on your teeth and gums may also be a reason for recommending a tooth extraction. Where there’s severe decay, extraction is needed to prevent the infection from spreading and affecting the rest of your tooth.

On the other hand, severe gum disease damages the tooth’s root. If not treated quickly, the foundation may become too brittle to restore, making extraction the only alternative.  

3. Physical Damages

Sometimes, brute impact from illness or trauma can damage your tooth’s foundations, making extraction the only solution. For example, this happens when you suffer a sudden hit to the face. While we may be able to reinsert your tooth if you visit our dental office quickly, exploring alternative restorative options may be the only solution to restore your smile fully.

Find the Right Oral Surgeon in Panama City, Florida

No one likes to lose a natural tooth. However, prompt action may be the only solution to stop decay and prevent your other teeth from suffering a similar fate. A safe extraction from Forest Park Dental can put you on the right track to exploring dental restorations that help you restore your smile.

If you suspect you may need a dental extraction or want a second opinion, reach out!