Your teeth should last you a lifetime. However, occasionally, you may need to remove one or more teeth through extraction. When you need tooth extractions in South Charlotte, NC, trust us at Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to provide the care you need and solutions to help you recover your smile.
Why You Might Need Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions to happen for several reasons. Both adults and children may require them, based on physiology and dental health. The following are some of the most common reasons that you or your child might need extractions:
Too Many Teeth Crowding Your Mouth
Your jaw may not have the length to accommodate all the teeth that try to grow in it. Dentists frequently extract wisdom teeth because the new teeth crowd existing teeth or don't have room to erupt and become impacted. Or the wisdom teeth may cause problems in the future due to growing incorrectly in the jaw.
Children may have teeth that overcrowd their mouths and prevent new adult teeth from properly erupting in the mouth. When this happens, a pediatric dentist will pull the problematic teeth to ensure your child has a straight, healthy smile when all adult teeth grow.
Severe Decay or Damage to a Tooth
Another major reason for tooth extraction happens when injury or decay is so severe that your dentist cannot save the tooth. A cavity can fix minor decay, while a root canal repairs damage to the pulp. However, if your dentist determines that either option will not save the tooth, they will suggest extraction.
Similarly, injuries can prompt a dentist to suggest extraction. If you have a crack in your tooth that goes below the gumline or starts at the root end, the dentist may also want to extract the tooth.
What Happens During Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is a minor procedure, but the dentist you visit will make a difference in your comfort level. You want to go to a dentist who goes above and beyond to ensure that you are mentally and physically at ease during the procedure. We do both at Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
During extraction, we'll make sure that your mouth is completely numb before starting. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the dentist may loosen it manually or cut it from the gums. The latter happens more often in impacted or severely decayed teeth cases.
Stitches close off the gap and allow the space to heal. A blood clot should form over the tooth. Do not remove this because it protects the extraction site and promotes faster recovery.
After you've fully healed from the extraction, ask your dentist about a dental implant. An implant prevents bone loss and movement of other teeth in the mouth. It also completes your smile by replacing the extracted tooth with an exact replica. No one will be able to tell the difference between your implant and natural teeth.
Why Choose Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for Your Tooth Extractions
Trust our team at Cedar Walk Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to provide you with high-quality treatment to extract your tooth or save it with a root canal. However, if we cannot preserve your tooth with root canal therapy, we'll extract it in our comfortable office.
If you lost a tooth due to decay or damage, you should talk to your dentist about replacing it with a dental implant. These surgically placed artificial teeth have a strong titanium root that firmly attaches to your jawbone for permanent support for the crown on top. Implants last a lifetime and help you to avoid the problems that may occur after extraction.
You can get implants to fill the gap in your smile left by the removed tooth at Cedar Walk Dentistry. Let us be your family's first choice for any dental care in South Charlotte, including everything from cleanings to extractions.
Book Your Appointment Today for an Evaluation to See If You Require Tooth Extractions
You may discover that you need tooth extraction during a routine dental visit or from the advice of an orthodontist. Call us today to set up a visit to see if you require a tooth extraction or other dental treatment.