Many people believe that if a tooth hurts, they need a tooth extraction. Unfortunately, pain is not always an accurate indication of the need for tooth extraction. The best dentist in Pinellas Park, FL, will always try to save your natural teeth before undergoing tooth extractions. In this blog, we are answering, “Do I need a tooth extraction?” Give Park Boulevard Family Dentistry if you need an emergency dentist.

Broken Tooth Beyond Repair

Any time you visit your dentist for restorative dentistry, you’ll need to have a good tooth structure to ensure that additional problems don’t arise. If you have a broken tooth that is beyond repair, you may need a tooth extraction. Generally, you need to have a certain amount of tooth above the gum line for it to be restored. 

The same logic applies to a tooth that has suffered an extreme decay as a result of a wide cavity. When decay progresses through a tooth, it softens the enamel and underlying dentin, causing it to crumble away. Cavities, if left untreated, will spread over an entire tooth, leaving nothing but the roots. A tooth that is repairable would likely get repaired with a root canal and dental crown. Tooths that are extracted should be immediately replaced with a dental implant or denture. Ask your dentist for a consultation. 

Recurring Tooth Infections

A root canal cleans up the tooth infection within the tooth. They are needed when these tissues become infected or incapable of healing after an injury. When a tooth that has already received a root canal treatment becomes infected again, the long-term prognosis of further treatment deteriorates. The success rate declines with each subsequent treatment explains Dr. Kacos, an endodontist in Shreveport, LA. So, if your teeth have been through one or more root canals and it becomes infected again, you’ll need a tooth extraction.

Root Fracture 

Teeth fractures are becoming more common. The cause may be increased tension, which causes more people to clench and/or grit their teeth while sleeping. We see broken teeth on a regular basis, for some reason. The size of the crack (or how deep the crack extends into a tooth) decides the best treatment. To treat superficial cracks, a filling or dental crown can suffice. Those that cross the nerve within a tooth necessitate root canal therapy and the use of a crown. A tooth crack that stretches all the way to the root is the most serious.

A tooth root fracture gives a tooth a hopeless prognosis, which means there is no long-term recovery option. Since the fracture enables contamination of the internal structures of the tooth on a continuous basis, all therapies will ultimately fail. Usually a sign you need a tooth extraction.

Loose Teeth

Teeth are kept in place by ligaments and gum tissue that bind to the jawbones. Bacterial toxins in plaque and tartar accumulation kill the bond in advanced gum disease. This causes the teeth to become increasingly loose over time. It’s close to how the erosion around a tree’s roots causes the tree to fall over over time. In order for the teeth to be intact, the roots must be adequately attached to the bones.

Mild and moderate gum disease react well to care, helping you to hold your teeth for an extended period of time. Severe gum disease is a little more difficult to treat. The long-term prognosis is bad if the teeth are so loose that you can “wiggle” them with only tongue pressure. It is almost difficult to reestablish attachment on teeth that have become too loose. You should pull your teeth if they are this loose.

Severe Swelling

Infections in and around the teeth can put you at risk of serious swellings in some cases. When an infection spreads from a tooth to the underlying gum and bone, it may frequently cause swelling underneath the tongue. This endangers the airway. You could die if the tissue swells so much that the airway closes.

Removing the tooth that is the source of a dangerous infection, such as the one mentioned above, is the quickest way to recover. Root canal therapy can often save these teeth, but there is still a small chance of residual bacteria. You should easily cut the tooth and get rid of the infection as soon as possible.

Search for a Dentist Near Me

If you’re experiencing any of the above problems, contact Park Boulevard Family Dentistry in Pinellas Park, FL. Our team will work with you to provide solutions and restore your smile. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wade.