Nobody ever wants to have a tooth pulled, but sometimes tooth extraction is necessary.
Your permanent teeth are tough and should last a lifetime. In fact, Colgate says that the enamel covering your teeth is the hardest substance in your entire body. Your gums and jaw bone provides a sturdy foundation for your teeth, holding the roots of your teeth firmly as you chew, talk, smile and laugh.
Sometimes, though, injury or disease can damage your teeth, gums or jawbone. Left untreated, this damage can lead to infection, inflammation and other problems in the affected tooth, in other teeth, and in the rest of the body.
Dentists can sometimes repair the damage caused by injury or disease to save the tooth. At other times, they may recommend tooth extraction.
Top Reasons You May Need to Have a Tooth Pulled
Tooth decay is destruction to the enamel covering your teeth. A sticky film of bacteria, known as plaque, develops on your teeth throughout the day. Eating or drinking something that contains sugar causes the plaque to produce acids. These acids can eat away at enamel to cause tooth decay, which can cause tooth sensitivity, ongoing pain, and a visible hole in the tooth. Extraction is necessary when damage to the enamel is too severe to fix with a filling, crown or other treatments.
Periodontal disease, which is an advanced form of gum disease, can lead to tooth extraction. In fact, this serious form of gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss among people over the age of 18, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
The bacteria in dental plaque can infect your gums to cause swelling and bleeding there. The infection can spread to your jawbone and, left unchecked, can destroy the structures that hold your teeth in. Your teeth can eventually become so loose that your dentist will need to remove them.
Accidents and sports injuries can cause dental trauma. While most dental traumas are minor, such as chipped teeth, some traumas can actually crack, split or dislodge teeth. The tooth may be pushed sideways or even completely out of its socket. The root of the tooth can fracture. Depending on the type, location and severity of the dental trauma, tooth extraction may be necessary. Your dentist may recommend removing the damaged tooth if repositioning, stabilizing and root canal do not work.
If damage from tooth decay or trauma extends to the pulp, which is the inside of the tooth, bacteria can enter your body to cause infection elsewhere. Extraction is necessary in this case.
Wisdom teeth are the last four teeth to appear at the very back of your mouth. Most people get their wisdom teeth when they are in their late teens or early twenties. The problem is that wisdom teeth usually come in long after your jaw has quit growing, so there may not be enough room in your mouth for four more molars. The lack of room can cause impacted wisdom teeth, which are teeth that do not completely come out of the gum. The wisdom tooth can even turn sideways to press against other teeth, causing pain, inflammation, infection, or even damage to the other teeth.
The extraction of wisdom teeth is common. In fact, 5 million people have 10 million wisdom tooth extractions each year.
Everyone’s jawbone is slightly different. Some jawbones are longer than others, so they have more room for teeth. Small jawbones can result in crowding of teeth.
Crowded teeth are more difficult to brush and floss, so they are more prone to dental decay and periodontal disease. Crowded teeth are harder to move during teeth straightening too, because there isn’t enough room for teeth to shift from one position to the next. Extracting crowded teeth leaves more room in your mouth for teeth straightening. Extracting crowded teeth can even improve the shape and appearance of your face.
Contact your dentist for more information about tooth extraction. While nobody wants to have a tooth pulled, the procedure can reduce pain, decrease your risk for complications, prepare your teeth for teeth straightening and improve your overall quality of life.