A tooth extraction is a dental procedure where our dental clinic in Edmonton removes a tooth from its socket. A tooth extraction is often done as a last resort when other options for saving the tooth, such as a root canal or a dental crown, are not viable. At Albany Dental, our dentists are highly experienced and skilled in performing tooth extractions near you. It is best to preserve your natural teeth; however, if extracting a tooth cannot be avoided, our team will do everything possible to make the procedure as pain-free as possible.
There are two types of extraction procedures:
1. Simple extractions: these are performed on teeth visible above the gum line and are typically done when the patient is under local anesthesia.
2. Surgical extractions: these are performed on teeth, not above the gum line and cannot be easily accessed by our dentist near you. This occurs when the tooth has not completely erupted or has broken underneath the gum line. This procedure is often performed with a patient under general anesthesia.
Reasons for Tooth Extractions
Each person has two sets of teeth, their milk teeth and their adult teeth. Milk teeth are the first set of teeth the body creates, and when these naturally fall out, permanent teeth replace them. Permanent teeth are meant to last forever; however, our dentist may recommend that you get dental extractions near you in the following circumstances:
1. Severe Tooth Decay
When tooth decay makes its way to the tooth’s center, the bacteria produced by it can cause an infection. A root canal can treat this infection most of the time, but if the infection is very severe, an extraction may be needed to prevent the spread of infection through the mouth.
2. Gum Disease
The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which only affects the gums. However, the severest form of gum disease can affect the bone and ligaments. In this case, tooth extraction may be necessary as the tooth can become loose. It is important to note that regularly brushing your teeth and visiting our dental clinic in Edmonton can help prevent the development of gum disease.
3. Overcrowding
If a patient has overcrowding in their mouth and needs orthodontic treatment, tooth extractions may be necessary to provide adequate space in the mouth for the teeth to realign. An orthodontist can determine how crowded your teeth are and if there is enough space for your teeth to move into the correct position. If there is not enough space, they will recommend tooth extractions.
4. Accidents
When an accident such as a car collision occurs, and a patient requires emergency dental treatment, the first attempt will always be to preserve damaged teeth. When this is not possible, a tooth extraction will be performed.
5. Impacted Tooth
A tooth is considered to be impacted when it cannot fully erupt from the gums. Usually, this is what creates the need for wisdom teeth extractions. In these cases, our dentist may recommend a tooth extraction to prevent the impacted tooth from causing damage to other teeth and help lower the risk of overcrowding and infection.
Whatever the reason, our team at Albany Dental is happy to provide our patients with tooth extractions if necessary. If you are ever concerned about your dental health, please do not hesitate to contact our team and book an appointment today.