As a leading dentist in Waterford, Michigan, Marvin Taylor, DDS, makes it his priority to help patients at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center enjoy healthy teeth and beautiful smiles. That means he has extensive experience in an array of state-of-the-art treatments aimed at preserving teeth and preventing tooth loss.
Sometimes, though, having a tooth pulled is the best treatment option for preserving oral health. In those cases, Dr. Taylor uses advanced techniques to remove the problematic tooth and restore the area, so your bite and your beautiful smile are maintained. Here’s when Dr. Taylor typically recommends extractions.
Tooth loss is a lot more common than you think: About 120 million Americans are missing one or more adult teeth. While some tooth loss is undoubtedly due to trauma or disease, plenty of people have teeth pulled “on purpose,” typically for one of these reasons.
Mild to moderate decay typically can be “fixed” with a filling or a slightly more extensive repair called an inlay or onlay. But when a tooth is badly decayed — so decayed it can’t be repaired or “rebuilt” — then extraction is a good choice for preventing more serious problems.
When a tooth is broken above the gum line, Dr. Taylor may be able to rebuild it. But when the fracture happens below the gums or when it involves a tooth root, it’s almost impossible to restore the tooth. That’s when an extraction is a better option.
Mild infections may be treated with antibiotics and other treatments, like root canal therapy. But deeper infections, including infections that extend into the jaw bone, typically respond better with an extraction, especially if the infection has damaged the tooth material or the supporting bone or ligaments.
Tooth extractions are relatively common prior to orthodontic treatment. That’s because a lot of alignment problems are due to overcrowding — essentially, having too many teeth for the space inside your mouth.
Impaction happens when a secondary (or adult) tooth becomes trapped under a neighboring tooth as it tries to erupt through the gums. Pulling an impacted tooth prevents damage to the neighboring tooth while reducing the risk of infections. Wisdom teeth are common sources of impaction, but any tooth can become impacted.
About half of all American men and women have some form of gum disease, a leading cause of adult tooth loss. While mild and moderate disease typically can be treated with deep cleanings and other treatments, severe gum disease may require extractions to stop the progress of the disease.
Even when wisdom teeth aren’t impacted or causing any noticeable problems now, their location makes them really hard to care for. That means they can easily be a source of infection and decay in the future. Dr. Taylor may recommend having your wisdom teeth pulled prophylactically to avoid those problems in the future.
No matter why you have a tooth pulled, one thing remains the same: It’s important to replace that tooth as soon as possible. The only exception is when a tooth is pulled due to overcrowding, where the goal is to reduce the number of teeth.
Dr. Taylor offers three primary methods for replacing missing teeth:
Each option offers its own advantages, and Dr. Taylor can help you review each option to make the best choice for your lifestyle, goals, and budget.
If you’re having tooth pain, swelling, or other symptoms, don’t put off seeking treatment. While extraction is sometimes the best choice, it can often be avoided with targeted preventive care.
To learn more about extractions, tooth replacement, and other treatments that can help you preserve your oral health and your smile, call 248-681-8100 or book an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center today.
