Pain can serve as a powerful motivator or deterrent. Humans generally avoid potentially dangerous activities like sky diving for fear of pain, but they become willing to undergo medical and dental procedures to get rid of it. However, what if your dentist informs you that you need a tooth extraction even when you aren’t feeling pain? It can be difficult to understand at first, but learning the real reasons for extraction can shed some light and put your concerns to rest.
The Tooth Is Overwhelmed with Decay or Damage.
In many cases, infected or injured teeth can be rescued through root canal treatment. The nerve, which is housed in the pulp center of the tooth, is carefully removed, the inner chamber cleaned and sealed, and the restoration put on top to cover and protect the remaining structure. However, if the damage is too extensive, the tooth might not have enough structure left to support a crown. To prevent pain and decay from spreading to other teeth, the safest solution is to extract the tooth entirely and replace it.
The Tooth Has Died.
Generally, if pain goes away, that’s a good sign! Not so with dental pain, unfortunately. Your tooth aches for a reason, and if it suddenly stops, it could indicate that decay has accessed and killed the tooth’s nerve. Although the pain is gone, the underlying problem remains and could cause a lot of issues. As a result, your dentist may still strongly recommend extraction, even if you aren’t currently in pain.
Your Mouth Needs Additional Room for Orthodontic Treatment.
If your teeth already have very little room to move, how are you supposed to straighten them? Overcrowded teeth can make orthodontic treatment impossible, but removing a tooth may give you the space the rest of your smile needs to line up perfectly.
You Have Advanced Gum Disease.
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is the number one cause of tooth loss in the world. When it progresses to an advanced stage, the jawbone weakens to the point that it won’t stabilize your teeth anymore. They feel loose and can even come out on their own! If you have this inflammatory infection, your dentist will do their best to save your natural teeth, but they may not be able to.
Your Third Molars Don’t Have Enough Room or Are Coming in Angled.
In late teenage or early adult years, a third and final set of molars, commonly called wisdom teeth, develop under the gums and can start to emerge. Unfortunately, many people simply don’t have a large enough mouth to accommodate these teeth. Without extraction, they can press against your other teeth, causing pain and alignment shifting. In some situations, wisdom teeth can grow at an unusual angle, which paves the way for infections and other complications. Extracting these few teeth ensures that the rest of your teeth stay healthy.
In basically all these situations, even if you aren’t currently in pain, extraction can help you avoid unnecessary pain and harm to your smile in the future.
About the Practice
Consisting of a staff of dental specialists as well as general dentists, EMA Dental offers advanced care that you likely won’t find at many other dental practices in the East Longmeadow, Northampton, and Westfield areas. Not only can our team handle your tooth extraction, but we have the training and skills to carry out replacement with dental implants completely in-house. If you have questions about tooth extraction, you can reach out to us online or call one of our three locations.