The average person isn’t usually overjoyed to learn that they need a tooth extraction, but a dentist will never recommend this treatment if it isn’t the best way to keep your mouth healthy. One of the primary goals of dentistry is to prevent tooth loss, but it is sometimes necessary to remove a tooth to preserve a patient’s oral and overall health. Here’s why your dentists may say you need a tooth extraction even if you feel no pain.
Extractions Can Prevent the Spread of Dental Infections
Tooth decay is an insidious threat that can start imperceptibly small. Cavities are among the most common oral health problems, and a dentist can easily resolve them with a filling if they are detected early. However, a cavity will not get better on its own and will eventually destroy the tooth if left untreated. To make matters worse, an advanced dental infection may spread to other tissues of the body, leading to potentially life-threatening secondary infections like sepsis.
While advanced tooth decay often results in an agonizing toothache, this is not always the case. Your dentist may need to extract an infected tooth even if it does not hurt.
The Tooth Is Compromised by Periodontitis
Gum disease might seem relatively harmless at first, but it will lead to serious health consequences if unresolved. These infections begin as inflammation called gingivitis, and they can usually be reversed at this stage with improved oral hygiene. If allowed to progress, gum disease will advance to the more severe stage of periodontitis, which causes permanent damage and requires professional dental intervention to manage.
If a patient has advanced periodontitis, their gums and jawbones will begin to deteriorate, causing teeth to loosen. In these cases, a tooth may be beyond saving, making removing them necessary to prevent further infection.
Making Room for Orthodontic Treatment
Some people with alignment issues do not have enough room in their mouths for their teeth to be shifted into better alignment. In these cases, it may be necessary to extract healthy teeth so the patient can enjoy the benefits of achieving a straighter smile through orthodontics, such as easier hygiene, less dental wear, and alleviation of TMJ problems.
While a tooth extraction may seem scary, the procedure is perfectly safe and rendered painless through anesthetic treatments. Having a tooth removed can set you on the path to a lifetime of better oral health.
About the Practice
Diamond Hill Dental is the premier oral health service provider in Cumberland. Led by Drs. Saba K. Abernethy and Maxwell Aniconi, the staff delivers treatments that produce remarkable results alongside exemplary courtesy and customer service. The office offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as tooth extractions. To learn more about why tooth extraction may be necessary, contact the practice online or dial (401) 333-2700.