Dealing With Tooth Issues: Is It Better To Pull Your Tooth Or Save It?

Your teeth are an important part of your body. The average adult has 32 teeth and these are split into different groups. The incisors are very good at tearing things apart while the molars grind the food to make it easier to swallow.

Despite their importance, you only get one set of teeth to last your lifetime. With recent advances in medical science this is increasingly possible. However, you do need to take the best possible care of your teeth every day. This includes brushing for two minutes twice a day, regular flossing, and seeing your reputable dentist, like this dentist in St Kilda East.

This will help to prevent issues. However, there are still times when tooth decay occurs and infection can get into your teeth. Once an infection has got into the tooth it is likely to damage the pulp inside and the nerves. Alongside this, it can cause an abscess which can weaken the bone around the tooth.

Root Canal

Infected teeth are usually perfect candidates for root canal. This is the process where the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected to eliminate any infection. You are often given antibiotics at the same time. Once it is cleaned and the infection is gone the inside of your tooth will be filled with a special substance. This strengthens and protects it.

The filling will help to restore the look of the tooth or, if necessary, you can add a crown. This is the most effective way to save your tooth and it is the preferred approach by any dentist.

The bottom line is that a dentist will always choose saving a tooth over extracting it.

Why Extraction Is A Bad Idea

When you extract a tooth you create a hole in your tooth line as well as the empty socket in your jaw. The other teeth in your jaw will slowly move into the space. Unfortunately, in the process, you are likely to weaken the other teeth and make it more likely that you’ll have further tooth issues.

Alongside this, if the extracted tooth is visible then you will feel self-conscious smiling. This will have a knock-on effect and can reduce your confidence levels.

That’s why dentists prefer to save the tooth if it is at all possible.

When Extraction Is necessary

Despite their best efforts, there are times when a tooth simply can’t be saved and extraction is the only viable option. This is usually the case when the tooth is cracked and the crack extends below the gumline. It can also be the case if the tooth is cracked in multiple places and it is likely to be too weak to be worth saving.

Dealing With Extraction

If you are told your tooth needs to be extracted seek a second opinion. This is to confirm that extraction is the only option, you need to verify that root canal is not possible.

Should extraction be the only option you’ll want to ask about implants. This places a titanium rod in your jaw and a false tooth is added to it. Not only does it look good, but it will also help to maintain strength in your jaw and other teeth.

To better understand if your situation requires tooth extraction, it’s always better to consult a dentist so they can examine your teeth. If you don’t have a dentist yet, you can check out this dentist who does dental implants, bridges, and the best cosmetic dentistry Tallahassee.