When a General Dentist Recommends a Tooth Extraction

General dentists only recommend tooth extraction as a last resort. The only exemption to this rule would be wisdom teeth since they are not essential to the oral cavity. A tooth extraction is typically recommended when treatments used to repair or rebuild teeth will not be sufficient enough to restore a tooth's function. Extractions are also used as a way to prevent out of control infections from entering the bloodstream and spreading to other areas.

Tooth extraction is one of those dental procedures that has a bad reputation, but patients do not feel anything during the treatment since local or general anesthetics are used. Recovery after a tooth extraction does involve some pain and discomfort which can be managed with prescription or over-the-counter painkillers.

There are two main types of tooth extractions performed by dentists: simple and surgical. A simple extraction is performed if the dentist can remove the tooth with forceps, while surgical extractions are performed when an incision needs to be made to reach the tooth. For example, an impacted tooth requires surgical extraction.

Reasons tooth extraction might be recommended

Dentists only recommend tooth extractions after carefully diagnosing patients and determining it is the best way to proceed. Some of the reasons why a dentist might recommend extracting a tooth include:

• A severely damaged tooth: Teeth can be damaged beyond repair by trauma to the face or untreated tooth decay. They can also be damaged while biting down on hard things or due to habits like teeth grinding. When a tooth cannot be repaired with restorations like composite resins or a crown, a dentist might recommend a tooth extraction. The tooth can then be replaced with a restoration like an implant.
• A severe infection: A tooth can become infected when damage caused by tooth decay or trauma leaves its pulp chamber exposed to bacteria in the mouth. The pulp chamber serves as the home of a tooth's blood vessels and nerves. These tissues becoming infected lead to intense toothaches and there is a risk of the infection spreading to other areas where it can life-threatening. The risk of infection is higher for patients who have recently had an organ transplant or received treatments like chemotherapy.
• Impacted teeth: A dentist will usually recommend an extraction if a tooth is impacted. An impacted tooth is one that is not able to break through the gums. Its growth can end up damaging other teeth around it.
• Overcrowding: Extracting a tooth creates more space on the jaw. A tooth extraction can be combined with other orthodontic treatments to address overcrowding. 

Figuring out if a tooth extraction is necessary

Here are some of the signs that indicate tooth extraction might be in a patient's future:

• Jaw stiffness or pain
• Pain when chewing or touching a tooth
• Severe toothaches
• Inflamed gums
• Periodontal disease

Learn more about tooth extraction

Dealing with a tooth that needs to be extracted? Call or visit our Madison practice to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://dentalcareofmadison.com or call Dental Care of Madison at (601) 898-9390 for an appointment in our Madison office.

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