Preserving a natural tooth is important, both for oral health and appearance. However, sometimes, a tooth needs to be extracted. This can happen due to issues such as disease, trauma, or crowding. A dentist who specializes in Buffalo Grove family dentistry will determine if it makes sense to save your tooth or if an extraction is necessary. Keep reading to know when tooth extraction must be done. 

Prevent Infection

In adults, gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss. It develops when bacteria penetrate and infect your gum line. When left untreated, oral bacteria results in gum recession, jawbone damage, loose teeth, or tooth loss. According to studies, chronic dental infections can lead to inflammation that can cause cardiovascular disease and stroke. Although a dentist can perform a root canal procedure to save a tooth, tooth extraction is necessary when the affected tooth cannot be saved because of lost stability and structure. By extracting the tooth, you can avoid decay and the spread of infection.

Impacted or Overcrowded Teeth

Sometimes, impacted or crowded teeth must be removed. An impacted wisdom tooth won’t be able to grow. Removing it can prevent infection and pain. Also, tooth extraction may be done before you can get braces. Crowded teeth will increase your risk of gum disease and dental cavities. Removing them can relieve crowding.

Restoration Cannot Save Your Tooth

Usually, dentists will recommend restoring a damaged or decayed tooth with a dental filling or crown. But if the tooth is seriously damaged, saving it may increase your risk of other oral health issues. Once your tooth is damaged, it can shatter when you get a filling. Also, it may not have the strength to support a dental crown. Root canal therapy may also be impossible in this case. 

Trauma

While your natural teeth are tough, they are not indestructible. A traumatic dental injury can result from a car accident, sports injury, or a slip and fall accident. If your tooth becomes seriously damaged that it cannot be restored, it has to be extracted.

After you sustain tooth trauma, you must schedule a dental appointment as soon as possible to improve your outcome. Your dentist can examine your mouth to find signs of extra damage. Seriously fractured teeth can be quite loose and are impossible to restore with dental work. Therefore, they need to be removed by your dentist. Dental trauma should not be taken lightly, no matter how mild it seems.