Worried About Tooth Loss? 4 Reasons Your Dentist Might Recommend Extractions

If you've been putting off your dental work because you're afraid of needles, or you're worried about pain, you should know that routine dental care can help you avoid those uncomfortable encounters with your dentist. That's why it's crucial that you go in for those semi-annual dental exams. Failure to see your dentist for those semi-annual dental exams can result in the need for extensive dental work, including tooth extractions. However, your dentist won't recommend extractions unless it's absolutely necessary. Here are just four of the reasons why your dentist may recommend extraction.

1. Your Previous Root Canal has Failed

If you've had a deep cavity, your dentist probably repaired the damage by performing a procedure known as a root canal. With a root canal, the nerve and the pulp are removed from the inside of the tooth. Once that is removed, the empty space is filled with a sterile material. If the tooth is taken care of from that point on, you shouldn't experience any further problems. However, in some cases, the root canal will fail. When that happens, it may be necessary to extract the tooth.

2. Your Tooth is Decayed Below the Gums

If you have a cavity that has not been taken care of, you could be dealing with decay that goes below the gum line. In some cases, your dentist may be able to remove the decayed portion and use a dental crown to restore the tooth. However, if the decay is too extensive, and too much of the tooth has been destroyed, your dentist may have no other option but to extract the tooth.

3. Your Dental Infection Isn't Responding to Antibiotics

If you have a dental infection, your dentist will try to treat the infection with antibiotics. Unfortunately, there are times when antibiotics aren't successful in treating dental infections. When that happens, it becomes necessary to remove the infected tooth. If you have a dental infection that is not responding to antibiotics, your dentist may recommend extraction. By extracting the tooth, your dentist can prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth, or to other parts of your body.

4. You're Suffering from Bone Loss Associated with Gum Disease

If you're suffering from gum disease that has not been treated properly, you could be suffering from bone loss. Unfortunately, once the bone loss becomes too extensive, your teeth may become loose. In some cases, the damage may be so significant that your dentist can't stabilize the teeth. If that's the case, your dentist will need to extract the affected teeth.

If you've been avoiding the dentist, you could be jeopardizing your teeth. To avoid the loss of your teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.


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