A Tooth extraction is a procedure where a tooth is removed from its hole in the bone. Also known as dental extraction, it is performed for a number of reasons.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
- Badly Damaged Tooth. A badly damaged tooth is one of the common reasons for tooth extraction. It is caused by decay or trauma that is too difficult to repair.
- Crowded Mouth. A crowded mouth happens when teeth that are too big for your mouth and/or they block the growth of other teeth. Baby teeth that do not fall out as expected or early enough would require tooth extraction to allow permanent teeth to come in.
- Infection. A damaged tooth or tooth decay can spread to the tissue, allowing bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Infections can generally be cured with root canal therapy and antibiotics, but sometimes that’s not enough and a tooth extraction is needed.
- The Danger of Infection. Tooth extraction is recommended to patients with compromised immune system, such as in the case of a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy or getting an organ transplant.
- Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease. Tooth extraction may be required if the teeth have loosened because of periodontal disease.
- Getting Braces. Teeth may need extracted to create space for crooked teeth to be moved into place. To align the teeth properly, a dentist will pull a tooth in preparation for orthodontia.
- Radiation Therapy. Patients receiving radiation treatment to the head and neck may need to have teeth extracted.
- Wisdom Teeth. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, show up during the late teen years or early 20s. They may require extraction either before or after they appear if they cause pain, are decayed, have an infection or a cyst. Wisdom teeth often require extraction because they get wedged in the jaw and cannot show up, irritating the gums and cause pain and swelling. They are normally extracted together if all of them need to be removed.
Visit a Hilliard dentist immediately if you think you might need a tooth pulled.