An extraction may be recommended due to impaction, tooth decay, periodontal or gum disease, trauma, or overcrowding of teeth. While you can help prevent the occurrence of certain dental concerns with preventive care such as brushing, flossing and routine professional care, other issues may appear by chance.
Impaction
In an impaction, one tooth grows directly against another, causing the tooth to become susceptible to infection. The symptoms include swelling around the jaw and difficulty opening the mouth. In addition to red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, this condition can damage your teeth permanently.
When it comes to impacted teeth, wisdom teeth are usually the culprit. Whenever possible, it's usually best for the wisdom teeth to be removed to prevent further damage to the rest of the teeth.
Tooth Decay
When you eat, bacteria deposits onto your teeth. This bacteria is known as plaque and when the plaque builds up it can leave to tooth decay. By eating away at the enamel of the teeth, these deposits cause the teeth to become weak and brittle. A serious infection can develop if the condition gets bad enough, resulting in intense pain, swelling, and redness. A tooth that reaches this stage may need to be completely removed and replaced with a dental bridge.
Periodontal or Gum Disease
When you have a build-up of plaque or tartar is can lead to other serious conditions like gum disease. In the gums and the bone surrounding the teeth, many different conditions can develop, but gingivitis and periodontitis are the most common.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and surrounding teeth, while periodontitis is the inflammation of bones and tissue surrounding the teeth.
If the bone or gum around the tooth deteriorates too much, it might require removing the tooth in favour of a dental crown or bridge to preserve the surrounding teeth.
Trauma
In the case of accidents, like car crashes, teeth are likely casualties. These incidents can cause serious damage to your teeth.
Sometimes an accident leaves a tooth too damaged to save. In these cases, we normally extract the tooth. If not, then other procedures, such as a root canal, might become necessary in order to stop infection and problems in other areas of the mouth.
Overcrowding
Removing teeth from the back of the mouth can prevent overcrowding. It can open up the rest of the mouth and help teeth to spread out as needed. This can help to preserve your smile without the need for orthodontics, like traditional braces or Invisalign.