When is a Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Dentists take out teeth for many reasons. You could be in severe pain in a tooth because of an abscess. The tooth itself might be so decayed that it isn’t fixable. Pulling a tooth is never an easy decision, but sometimes, it’s necessary to protect your remaining teeth, gums and the bone in your jaw from getting infected or damaged. If you feel that you need to have a tooth extracted for any reason, you should visit a dentist in Eugene, Ore. Infection and Tooth Decay If you have a decaying or infected tooth that is beyond the point of repair, it needs to come out because, in this case, the pulp holding all the blood vessels and nerves have become infected. However, with root canal therapy, your tooth may be able to be saved. Sometimes, this is not possible. If so, that specific tooth will need to be extracted to protect the rest of your mouth from further infection. Crowding of the Teeth This is very typical for younger children whose adult teeth are coming. Tooth extraction may be necessary if a milk tooth has yet to fall out, but an adult tooth is coming in right underneath it. The tooth is not able to erupt, or break through, the gums properly. If this is the case, your dentist will definitely recommend pulling the milk tooth out to make room for the adult tooth, so it can erupt through naturally. Severe Tooth Trauma or Damage If you have a tooth that cannot be repaired because of trauma or excessive damage, you will most likely have to have it removed. For example, if you had a severe tooth trauma while playing sports, such as getting a ball to the face that cracked a tooth and a piece came out. This creates a very large problem. Seeing an emergency dentist immediately may result in having that half of your tooth saved, but if you wait too long and leave half of a gap there, there’s a good chance the other half will need to come out because of the severe trauma and damage. Organ Transplants Even though this reason for tooth extraction is very uncommon, it does occur. Immunosuppressive medications that are prescribed after someone has an organ transplant increases the risk of tooth infection, which could very well require extraction prior to having a transplant completed. OrthodonticsrnOften, dentists have to pull teeth to make room to fix alignment issues. Orthodontists will evaluate if they can use a space enhancer instead of pulling teeth. If they can’t create space any other way, they will extract teeth. Speak With Your Dentist If you are experiencing tooth pain, you should visit an expert dentist in Eugene, so the dentist can determine whether you need an extraction. If you need a tooth extracted, your dentist will take an X-ray of your mouth to show you the severity of the problem, and which tooth needs to come out. From there, you will be told how to prepare for the extraction and the steps you will need to take while at home.