At our South Surrey/White Rock general dentist’s office, we take community education seriously. It is a big part of our comprehensive dentistry program here at the White Rock Dental Group, and the real reason for this blog. As such, today we want to talk about a tough topic: tooth extractions. As you will find out by reading this post, such a procedure can actually save your smile.
So, when would tooth extractions make sense? We’ll walk through some of those situations. Be sure to get in-touch if you have any questions or you think you could benefit from a more in-depth consultation with Dr. Rogers and we’ll set it all up for you.
Wisdom Teeth
Preemptive extractions are usually in order when a soon-to-emerge wisdom tooth (or several) is posing a threat to the neighboring teeth. No one seems to mind these scenarios much. And you may never have to experience it, if you are lucky.
Previously Untreated Cavities
This is why it is so important to schedule your regular preventive checkups every 3-6 months. Whenever there is extensive damage or prolonged decay, your options become more limited. Remember, as dentists, our goal is to save your natural teeth whenever possible. But if the tooth is too damaged to be saved by a dental filling, root canal therapy, or endodontic treatment, we might just have to explore an extraction.
Advanced Gum Disease
Once your gums and underlying bone have been assaulted by gum disease, any teeth in the battle zone may be too loose to be saved by traditional gum disease treatment. In this type of situation, the teeth must be removed and replaced with implants, dentures, or other restorative solution. Gum disease actually accounts for most of the tooth loss in American adults. Beyond that, it attacks your body’s other systems, putting your overall health on the line.
Dentures
To restore your smile after adult tooth loss has occurred, it may be necessary to extract some more for dentures to work. It just depends on the situation.
Traditional Braces
Your orthodontist might just recommend tooth extraction if your mouth is overcrowded. Obviously, there is a good reason, since braces do need room to be able to move your teeth into proper placement. However, in our office we do offer Invisalign clear aligners that can help fix many orthodontic problems without requiring you to have teeth extracted or live with the indignity of metal brackets and wires for 2-3 years.
Comfortable Procedures
In the event that you are the right sort of candidate for an extraction procedure, we will begin with a complete oral examination. We actually start by taking detailed images of your mouth so that we can better see the structure of your tooth and extract it safely.
Once we have a plan in-place, we will numb the area around your damaged tooth. If the crown of your tooth is visible above your gum line, we can do a simple extraction. If a given situation is overly complex, Dr. Rogers will refer you to a local, trusted specialist to perform the procedure.
Don’t worry, if you are at all anxious about the treatment, we can set you up with a great option to help relax your fears. At our White Rock/South Surrey dental office, you can get oral sedation in the form of a prescription pill. Just so you know, it must be taken about an hour before your visit, and you will need someone to drive you to and from our dental office!
Find Out More, Schedule Your Visit!
Call us today at 604-635-1695 ext 1 or use our convenient online form to schedule your next appointment.