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When Is A Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Dental, Dental Issues / By

What Is A Tooth Extraction

Dentists provide a variety of restorative and preventative dental services to keep your smile healthy. At a regular check-up a dentist is provides a professional cleaning as well as many procedures that are designed to prevent damage to your teeth. However, during the exam there is a chance your dentist will recommend a restorative procedure or even tooth extraction to make sure the rest of your teeth are protected. In this article, we will cover the various reasons that a tooth extraction might be necessary. If you have any questions or would like to make a dental appointment in Lewsiton Maine, please give us a call.

When Do Children Need Teeth Extractions?

One of the common questions parents have is what to do with a loose tooth won’t come out. You should never force a tooth out. While most dentists will recommend that kids try to wiggle the tooth out naturally, if a tooth doesn’t come out on it’s own, you might need a dentist to take a look. A dentist might recommend a tooth extraction, but this is usually only done if there is a concern that the baby tooth is causing problems for the adult tooth that is trying to erupt. 

What is sometimes referred to as “shark teeth” is a phenomenon where an adult tooth erupts and grows in behind the baby tooth. This causes your child to have two rows of teeth. Typically a baby tooth falls out first and the adult tooth follows the path the baby tooth created to fit into place. But if you notice that an adult tooth is erupting behind the baby tooth, you might want to call a dentist. Your dentist might recommend a tooth extraction for the baby tooth to prevent the adult tooth from having issues growing into place. 

When Do Adults Need Teeth Extracted?

While baby teeth are often extracted due to issues with them coming out on time, adult tooth are not extracted for that reason. Your adult teeth should be in your mouth for the majority of your life. However, there are a few reasons an adult tooth might need to be removed. First and foremost, wisdom teeth, or third molars, are often extracted surgically because your mouth does not have enough room for them. The lack of room can lead to these teeth becoming impacted and infected. By contrast, other adult teeth may need to be removed because of infection. When bacteria sits in our mouths it begins to erode the tooth. This can lead to a cavity. Left unchecked this decay can spread through the tooth down to the tooth’s roots. This can require a root canal to fix. But if it continues any longer this will require the entire tooth to need removal. If a decaying tooth is not removed it might fall out naturally but it can also lead to a variety of problems for the surrounding gums and teeth.  

How Can You Prevent Teeth Extraction

The best way to prevent the need for tooth extraction is to visit your dentist regularly. If your dentist sees you every six months they can catch the early signs of infection and decay. This means the difference from having a tooth removed vs having a root canal or a filling. 

Visit A Dentist in Lewiston Maine

For families living in the Lewiston area, we provide dental services that can protect your teeth. if you have questions about dental health or would like to make an appointment, please call us. 

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