Dentist - Reasons for a Tooth Extraction

The idea of going to the dentist for in order to have a tooth pulled is filled with anxiety for most patients. No matter what a person's age or their comfort level in a dental office, the thought of losing a tooth and possibly needing to replace it can cause concern. What are the reasons for tooth extraction? Here's a look at common reasons for getting rid of some problem areas in the mouth. Correcting Alignment and Making Room If a dentist to going to attempt to realign the teeth in a person's mouth, they may need to complete a tooth extraction to allow the other teeth some extra room to maneuver into a new location. Often, before getting braces, a patient needs to have one or more teeth removed to ensure that everything will line up for a perfect smile at the end of the treatment. If some are left in, they could become a problem that prevents the braces from doing their job. Sometimes, new teeth are trying to come in but the "old" ones aren't making the room needed. While some children are able to pull their own teeth, there can come a point when the dentist needs to get involved. This is just one reason why children need to visit a dental facility regularly. Teeth that cannot break through often change their course to come up in another way, which is often in front of or behind the current teeth. Medication or Infection An infected tooth tends to cause problems for other parts of the body. Aside from the pain that a patient feels, an infection often causes fever, the inability to eat comfortably, and in some cases, sickness. Instead of leaving the tooth in, a dentist can remove it to get rid of the infection. A patient may feel better as soon as they recover from the extraction. There are medications, especially those associated with cancer, that cause the development of infected teeth. Because of this, a patient needs to have these removed as soon as possible. On the other hand, someone undergoing an organ transplant may need to have an extraction to make sure that there are no signs of infection in the body before the surgery. Wisdom Teeth Also known as third molars, wisdom teeth sometimes need to be removed. A dentist will choose to take them out before they come in or after, depending on the amount of room a patient has in his or her mouth and the way that the teeth are coming in. For most people, this happens sometime around their latter teen years or early twenties. Sometimes, wisdom teeth cause pain, but this is not always the case. In each of these situations, it is important to choose a dental office that will explain to you what the problem is, why you are having a tooth or multiple teeth extracted, and what your options are for replacement, if necessary. Communication is key to feeling more comfortable and confident when you sit back in the dental chair.