Why Tooth Extraction Isn’t Common Anymore

Before dentistry became as advanced as it is today, many tooth problems had to be dealt with by extracting the tooth. For some people, this could be followed by having the tooth replaced. Today, however, your dentist can help you address a wide range of dental health concerns, including many severe ones, in order to help you save and preserve more of your natural teeth. This means teeth don’t have to be extracted just because they’ve become compromised. Yet, there are still instances when a tooth may be so compromised that saving it isn’t really an option, and tooth extraction may be the best option for your smile.

Dealing with dental health problems

Dental health care today involves caring for your smile and addressing oral health concerns with a higher level of precision and success than ever before. For example, restorative dental treatment can remove decay (or infection) from a tooth and restore its structure so that it can remain on your dental ridge and function properly. If a tooth becomes cracked or broken, the right dental restoration can also repair the tooth’s damage and enable it to regain its structural integrity. You have many options for dealing with virtually any dental health problem that doesn’t involve removing a tooth, but rather allow you to preserve your healthy, natural teeth much longer.

When tooth extraction is recommended

While many tooth problems can be addressed in a way that allows you to save your tooth, these solutions depend on your tooth still retaining enough healthy, natural structure to restore. If a tooth is severely infected with decay or has had most of its crown structure damaged, then restoring it may not be a viable option. Yet, the severe nature of the tooth’s damage or infection could pose a threat to the rest of your oral health if the tooth remains. To avoid these complications, your dentist might suggest extracting what remains of the tooth’s structure and replacing it with a lifelike dental prosthesis.

What to consider for the future of your smile

If extracting a tooth is the best course of action for your smile, then it’s important to consider what it could mean for your smile long-term. One of the most significant reasons why dentists prefer to restore a tooth, when possible, instead of extracting it is because the loss of the tooth can also have consequences for your long-term oral health. Because of this, your dentist might recommend replacing the tooth after you have it extracted, which can restore your smile and help you avoid other potentially serious problems with your oral health in the future.

Learn more about the need for tooth extraction

Modern dental treatment has made the need for tooth extraction less common, but it may still be necessary in some severe circumstances. To learn more, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234.