Ideally, patients will keep their biological teeth for most of their lives. However, in certain circumstances, teeth may need to be removed. This may be necessary for a number of different reasons, and tooth extractions may be simple or surgical, depending on the patient’s case. Not all extracted teeth will need to be replaced, but patients have a number of options for prosthetics to replace those that are needed for aesthetic or structural purposes.
Need For Tooth Extraction
Impacted teeth may also need to be extracted. This is most common with the wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of problems for patients, including abscesses, infections, cysts and tumors. The wisdom teeth are unnecessary for modern humans, and our jaws are often too small to accommodate them. As a result, many patients choose to have their wisdom teeth removed as a preventive measure before they even develop any symptoms.
If a tooth has erupted properly, your dentist typically will be able to remove it in a simple extraction. However, impacted teeth need to be removed surgically. Your dentist will inform you whether surgical or simple tooth extraction is indicated in your case.
Tooth Replacement Options
If you have a tooth extracted and want to restore your smile, a tooth replacement will be needed except in the cases of wisdom teeth. Patients can consider a variety of options, including fixed dental bridges, standard dentures or implant supported crowns, bridges or dentures. There are different pros and cons of each treatment method, so you should discuss your goals with your provider to determine which restoration will be most suitable for you.
Tooth extraction is necessary in some cases, but your provider can work with you to restore a complete smile. If you need to have a tooth extracted, schedule an evaluation with our team at DeSanti & Linden Dentistry to learn about your options.