Tooth extractions in Bonita Springs, Florida

A tooth removal or tooth extraction is a very common procedure that can usually be done in the dentist’s office. Your teeth are attached to the jaw bone by fibers called periodontal ligaments. By carefully manipulating a tooth, the dentist can sever these ligaments and easily remove the tooth.

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

Many people call our Towncare Dental of Bonita Springs office requesting to have a tooth removed when they have a painful toothache. Common reasons for tooth extractions include:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth The mineral calcium phosphate gives teeth the strength needed to chew hard and tough foods. Nevertheless, teeth are still susceptible to cracks and breaks due to injuries, accidents and decay. If the damage is minor, the dentist can cap it with a crown to protect the tooth and prevent further breakage. If the break or crack has penetrated the connective tissue inside the tooth called the pulp, a root canal may be needed before placing a crown on the tooth. Sometimes, though, the damage is beyond repair and the tooth must be pulled.
• Severe Decay (cavity) Every time you eat and drink, a film of bacteria called plaque coats your teeth. Brushing and flossing helps eliminate some of this plaque buildup but bacteria can cause dental decay despite your best efforts. Dental decay is an infection that erodes the tooth enamel causing a cavity (hole) in the tooth. Small cavities can be fixed with a filling and larger cavities can usually be repaired with a crown or a root canal followed by a crown. But if you have a severely infected tooth and are in pain, the dentist may recommend the tooth be pulled.
• Baby Tooth Does Not Fall Out Most children start losing their primary teeth, or baby teeth, at the age of 6 or 7. Sometimes, however, a baby tooth does not fall out on its own. This prevents the permanent tooth behind it from growing in. When this occurs, the dentist will remove the baby tooth so the permanent tooth is able to come through.
• Crowded Teeth / Tooth Removal for Orthodontic Treatment A child’s baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth during adolescence. But sometimes the jaw is too small to hold all of the permanent teeth properly and they begin to grow in at an angle or overlap other teeth. When this happens, the dentist may extract a tooth to make room for the other teeth. Often, the extraction is followed by orthodontic treatment including braces in order to properly align the remaining teeth.
• Advanced Periodontal Disease The same bacteria that cause cavities can also attack the gums and causes an infection called periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. As a result, the gum tissue begins to pull away from the tooth and erodes the ligaments that attach the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or need to be extracted.
• Impacted Wisdom Tooth Wisdom teeth are the third molars that typically push through the gum line at the back of the jaw when a person is between the ages of 17 and 25. Oftentimes, there is not room for the wisdom teeth to come in and they remain partially or completely under the gum line. This is called an impacted wisdom tooth. The dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted tooth.

If our dentist in Bonita Springs refers to the type of extraction you need as a “simple tooth extraction,” it means the dentist anticipates the shape and condition of the tooth roots will allow the tooth to come out easily. This is also referred to as an uncomplicated extraction.

Generally speaking, a tooth extraction is a routine dental procedure that can be performed by a general dentist in our Towncare Dental of Bonita Springs office. In some cases, however, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Bonita Springs

Most people have four wisdom teeth that come through the gum line during the later teen/early adult years. Often times, there is not enough room in the jaw for this third set of molars.

When they try to push their way up past the gum line, they may cause oral health problems. Our team at Towncare Dental of Bonita Springs will take x-rays to determine what problem the wisdom teeth are causing. Problems include:

• The jaw is too small for the wisdom teeth to emerge through the gum line
• The wisdom teeth are only partially emerging through the gums
• The wisdom teeth are growing in at an angle
• The wisdom teeth are damaging the surrounding teeth
• The wisdom teeth are damaging the jaw bone
• The wisdom teeth are causing a gum infection

Our dentist may recommend you have the wisdom teeth removed to eliminate these problems or prevent these problems from occurring in the future.

It’s recommended that wisdom teeth be extracted before the age of 25 when the wisdom tooth roots are not fully developed yet and the jaw bone is not as dense as it will be later in life.

If our dentist cannot perform the wisdom tooth procedure, we’ll refer you to an oral surgeon who will be able to help you.

Call Towncare Dental of Bonita Springs Today to Schedule an Exam

The first step to determining whether you need to have any teeth extracted is to schedule a dental exam. We’ll take x-rays and evaluate the condition of your teeth before determining whether the natural tooth can be saved or if it should be pulled.

Call our office today at (239) 494-4720 to schedule an exam. We look forward to helping you.