When Does an Oral Surgeon Recommend Tooth Extraction?

Extensive damage due to decay or trauma

Cosmetic dentists usually consider conservative approaches to save a damaged tooth. If the tooth is merely loose, a procedure using LANAP, which uses PerioLase, can treat loose teeth by promoting tissue regeneration. However, in cases of severe damage that can not be solved with this solution or other common ones, such as a dental crown or filling, the oral surgeon may decide to extract the tooth completely. Teeth often move into the space left by a missing tooth, and that may result in bite issues. For comfort, aesthetic and oral health reasons, the dentist may recommend replacing the lost tooth with a dental implant, bridge or partial denture.

Orthodontics

Tooth extraction is sometimes part of orthodontic treatment. In the case of crowded or problematic teeth, the dentist may need to remove the teeth to complete the orthodontic treatment. The most common reason for tooth extraction in braces is to fix crowding, and a condition like an overbite may also necessitate the procedure.

Dentists usually remove teeth symmetrically, so a similar tooth type on each jaw is extracted to maintain bite balance. This means that up to four teeth will be extracted. Although removing the tooth for brace treatment seems peculiar, it is sometimes an effective alternative to the more complicated surgery for jaw realignment.

Wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth are the last set of adult molars to erupt, usually when the person is in their late teens or early 20s. Not all wisdom teeth are problematic, but impaction is quite common, which means they may erupt at a bad angle or get stuck under the gums and press against other teeth. Wisdom teeth sometimes get infected and result in abscesses, swelling or pain. The oral surgeon will recommend removing the wisdom teeth if it is impacted or bound to cause problems.

Timely intervention in kids

Sometimes, the dentist will suggest removing a baby tooth (also called “milk” teeth or primary teeth) that have refused to come off at the right time. For instance, if the dentist sees that a child still has a baby tooth that should have been lost years ago, an extraction might be in order. The reason for that extraction is generally to encourage the timely eruption of adult teeth in the correct position.

In conclusion

Patients need to understand that oral surgeons take tooth extractions seriously. The first option is usually conservative action: to save as many teeth as possible. However, development or health reasons may make preserving the natural teeth unfeasible. Regardless of the reason, if the dentist recommends tooth extraction, they will explain the details of the procedure, including what to expect and the health benefits.

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