Reasons Why a Tooth Extraction is Necessary and How You Can Prevent It
In this article, you’ll learn and discover the reasons why tooth extraction is necessary and how you can go about preventing it.
You have been experiencing a tooth problem, and due to the severity, you make a doctor’s appointment. You get a physical examination of the tooth and the doctor suggests that it needs to go. You likely agree with the doctor’s decision, especially when you have experienced immense pain dealing with the tooth. However, sometimes it may surprise you why the doctor opted to have the tooth extracted.
The doctor will try to explain the reasons why the tooth needs extraction, but you can also try to better understand some of the reasons that facilitate tooth extraction as a solution. Always opt for a checkup every six months to reduce the likelihood of requiring tooth extraction in the first place.
Some dental conditions may not have anther solutions besides tooth extraction, but best practices with your oral health can reduce the need to have a tooth removed. Professionals such as Dr. Carl Lipe in Denver has listed some of the most common reasons why tooth extraction is necessary and how you can go about preventing it.
The five most common reasons for tooth extraction include:
Table of Contents
Serious Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria attacks your tooth and produces toxins that eat away at your enamel. The tooth decay process advances if untreated and can eat away parts of the tooth all the way down to the root.
When it reaches the root, the first option is to do a root canal. However, if you ignored the tooth decay for some time, it will likely have to go. Try to visit a dental doctor when early signs of tooth decay show.
Initial treatment is the best way to avoid a tooth extraction procedure that may affect what you eat as a result. A tooth removal process may also require a tooth replacement, which will increase the cost of your health care.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an advanced form of gingivitis, which is ultimately gum disease. When food particles compact around your teeth and do not come off while brushing, they attract bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins that eat up the gums and cause infections.
If left untreated, the diseases spread to the tooth and the jaw bone. When it reaches the tooth and the bones, the condition is critical and requires tooth extraction as well as a major surgery on the jaw bone to remove the infection and rehabilitate your jaw bone.
Impacted Tooth Removal
When you are young, most individuals are typically born without any teeth. The growing process involves the growth of teeth, and that consists of the breaking of the gums for the tooth to grow to full maturity.
The process may not complete successfully, leaving a tooth to remain inside the gums. The consequence of such a condition involves having overcrowded teeth as other teeth are attempting to spring up. It may also cause internal injuries to the gum as you eat and press the gum between the majority of teeth and the impacted tooth.
The internal injuries may result in serious infections which may require complex treatment afterward. This emphasizes the need for dental checkups twice a year to detect any abnormalities in your dental formula and make the correction early.
Reduce Overcrowding
The average person has 32 permanent teeth after maturity. However, some people develop a condition that results in them having more than 32 teeth. The size of the jaw bone may not accommodate that many teeth and the person affected may have difficulty with eating, as well as discomfort and tension in their jaw bone. Correcting the condition may require the removal of excess teeth in order to reduce stress and provide comfort.
What Steps You Can Take To Prevent a Tooth Extraction
To prevent the need for tooth extraction follow these steps daily…
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily to avoid tooth decay.
- Reduce the frequency of sugary foods and beverages
- Eat a balanced diet
- See a dentist regularly
- Consider sealants to protect your teeth.