3 Reasons You May Need a Tooth Extracted
Dec 12, 2024
Your natural teeth are amazing. They’re coated in the hardest substance your body produces, enamel, and they allow you to chew tough foods, speak clearly, and help keep your jawbones healthy.
Dr. Laura Llanos and her team at Llanos Dental Group in Miami Lakes, Florida, have several goals in providing your dental care — and preserving your natural teeth is certainly one of them. However, your overall oral health is more important than any single tooth.
Sometimes extracting a tooth is the best way to keep your mouth healthy is to extract one or more teeth, and we offer a variety of options for tooth replacement to ensure you have a complete, functional smile.
When the enamel that covers your teeth is compromised, you may develop a cavity. But simply having a cavity isn’t necessarily a reason to have a tooth removed.
We can often save your natural teeth through procedures such as fillings or root canals. These types of dental care can remove decay and seal openings that allow bacteria to get to the inner dentin of your teeth. In some cases, Dr. Llanos may recommend a crown to provide additional protection.
Sometimes, though, the damage and decay are too extensive for Dr. Llanos to save a tooth. In those instances, she may suggest removal. Here are three situations when extraction may be the best option.
Often we can repair or reimplant a cracked, broken, or knocked-out tooth. Sometimes, though, if a tooth is severely fractured, broken into pieces, or if the crack extends through the tooth root, we can’t fix it.
A different type of injury, called tooth luxation, involves the ligaments that hold your tooth in place. When those structures are damaged, we may not be able to save your tooth.
You can have a toothache and not need to have a tooth extraction. In fact, that’s quite common. However, advanced gum disease leading to tooth decay is the number one reason people lose teeth.
Some procedures we employ to save your natural teeth and gums include:
However, sometimes even those tooth-saving procedures aren’t enough. If your teeth are severely decayed or you have an ongoing infection, extraction could be the best way to restore your oral health.
When a tooth doesn’t emerge — dentists call it eruption — from your gums correctly, they can become impacted. This happens quite frequently with wisdom teeth. They may grow in sideways, in the wrong place, or in ways that otherwise cause problems.
If Dr. Llanos says that you have an impacted tooth, your best bet is extraction.
When you leave our office following an extraction, you’ll have complete aftercare instructions, designed to help you heal quickly, and with as little pain as possible. Dr. Llanos also offers options for replacing lost teeth so you can continue enjoying the benefits of a healthy mouth.
If you think you have a tooth that may require extraction, schedule an appointment today at Llanos Dental Group. We’re always happy to answer your questions and discuss your care choices.