Helping you maintain your healthy and beautiful smile is often as simple as keeping up with good hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly for preventive care. Sometimes, however, it requires more direct care, such as restoring a tooth’s damage or removing infected tooth structure. In severe cases, the best way to preserve your smile is to remove a tooth that can’t be fixed or saved. Today, we answer a few common questions about tooth extraction, including why it might be necessary and what you should do to improve your chances of preserving the rest of your teeth.

Why is removing the tooth necessary?

There are several different reasons why tooth extraction might be necessary. For instance, when a wisdom tooth becomes impacted, extracting it is the only way to stop it from damaging the molars nearby. Also, if a tooth is too damaged for a dental crown to cap it, or if the root is cracked, then your dentist might suggest extracting the replacing the tooth for optimal function.

Do I have other options?

Because tooth extraction involves removing your tooth, your dentist will only recommend it when there is no viable option for fixing it. In many cases, the only real alternative is to wait for the tooth to fall out on its own, though that can give it enough time to cause damage to other teeth or your oral tissues.

What should I do next?

While tooth extraction can remove the threat of your tooth, your smile and bite function can be affected. Therefore, your dentist may recommend replacing the tooth after it’s been extracted, preferably with a dental implant crown. The implant post replaces the tooth’s root, while the crown restores your smile’s appearance and the function of your bite.

Learn More About Tooth Extraction

In some cases, extracting a troublesome tooth is the best way for your dentist to restore and preserve your smile. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Gregory Wright, DDS in Southlake, TX today at (817) 481-7999.