Reasons That Dentists Extract Teeth

The permanent teeth you have in your mouth are important, and dentists generally do not extract teeth unless necessary. When a dentist can fix a tooth, they would prefer fixing it rather than removing it. There are times, though, when dentists must extract teeth. Getting a tooth removed is a major procedure, and here are some of the main reasons that dentists extract teeth.

Reasons Kids Need Extractions

In some cases, dentists remove teeth from children, and they do this for various reasons. One reason is for overcrowding. Sometimes a child does not have enough room in their mouth for all the teeth. If the dentist leaves them, the child may have crooked, overcrowded teeth. A mouth like this is prone to problems, such as decay. Kids also have baby teeth removed when they have too much decay in them to fix.

Dentists also remove baby teeth when children do not have permanent teeth growing in to replace them. Many children are born missing a few permanent teeth. If the permanent teeth are missing, it means they will never grow in. Dentists may remove the baby teeth to allow the child to get braces to fill in the gaps where the permanent teeth are missing.

Reasons Adults Need Extractions

One of the most common reasons for extractions is to remove the wisdom teeth. Most people do not have room in their mouths to hold their wisdom teeth. Leaving these teeth in a person's mouth may cause problems, so dentists typically remove them as preventative care.

The second reason a dentist removes teeth from adults is when teeth are damaged to the point where they cannot be repaired. When a tooth gets a cavity, the dentist wants to fix the cavity right away. If the person does not visit a dentist to fix the problem, the cavity can spread and consume an entire tooth. At some point, the tooth will have so much decay on it that the dentist cannot fix it. The only way to treat the tooth at this point is through extraction.

Dentists can also remove teeth when the roots become infected. Most dentists will suggest treating infected roots with a root canal procedure, but some prefer removing their teeth rather than treating them.

If you ever need a tooth extraction, make sure you talk to your dentist about it, so that you know what to expect. To learn more, call a dentistry clinic today.


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