Tooth extractions in Cutler Bay, Florida

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

There are several reasons why our dentist may recommend that a tooth be pulled. Common reasons for tooth extractions include:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth Teeth are made up of minerals like calcium phosphate that give teeth their durable, hard enamel coating, allowing you to chew tough and hard foods. Although the enamel is h2, it is still vulnerable to accidents, injuries, or decay which can cause a tooth to crack or break. If the crack or break is minor, the damage can be fixed by placing a crown on the tooth. If the break or crack has penetrated the pulp of the tooth, the soft tissue in the middle of the tooth, you may require a root canal before the tooth is crowned. There are times, though, when the tooth is too damaged to save and must be extracted.
• Severe decay (cavity) Despite regular brushing and flossing, teeth are vulnerable to bacteria in foods and beverages that can cause dental decay. Dental decay is an infection that erodes the tooth enamel and creates cavities, or holes, in the teeth. If the cavity it small, the dentist can fill it with a mixture made of porcelain, a composite resin or a metal alloy. If the cavity is large, it can be covered by a tooth-shaped cap called a crown. But, in cases where the tooth is severely infected and the patient is in pain, the dentist may recommend a root canal or an extraction.
• Baby tooth retained One of the joys of childhood is the ritual of placing a baby tooth beneath a pillow to be discovered by the tooth fairy. Children begin to lose their baby teeth around the age of 6 or 7 in preparation for the emergence of their permanent teeth. There are times, though, when a baby tooth doesn’t fall out on its own and prevents the permanent tooth from emerging. When this occurs, the dentist will pull the baby tooth.
• Tooth or teeth need to be removed before braces An adolescent’s permanent teeth emerge between the ages of 6 and 13. However, there are times when the jaw is too small to accommodate all 28 permanent teeth. As a result, some teeth emerge out of alignment, causing teeth to move out of position or overlap. When this occurs, the dentist may extract one or more teeth to give the remainder teeth the room they need. Often, this is followed by braces or other orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth.
• Advanced periodontal disease Just as bacteria from food and beverages can cause tooth decay, bacteria can also attack the gums, resulting in an infection called periodontal disease. The infection causes the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and deteriorates the ligaments that hold the teeth in place. The result is a loose tooth that may fall out on its own or may need to be pulled.
• Problem with wisdom tooth or wisdom teeth Between the ages of 17 and 25, most people have a third set of molars that begin to push through the gums at the back of the jaw. These are known as wisdom teeth because they emerge at the age of maturity. In many cases, however, there isn’t enough room in the jaw for these molars to properly emerge. They remain partially or completely under the gum and impact the tooth next to it. This is referred to as an impacted wisdom tooth. The dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted tooth.

Most tooth extractions are determined to be a “simple tooth extraction” or an uncomplicated extraction. That means the dentist anticipates the shape and condition of the tooth roots will allow the tooth to come out easily.

Usually, a simple tooth extraction is a routine dental procedure that can be performed by a general dentist in our Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay office. In other cases, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Cutler Bay

During the late teen and early adult years, most people begin to get a third set of molars known as wisdom teeth. When these molars emerge properly, they make up the final four of a human’s 32 teeth.

There are times, however, when there isn’t enough room in the jaw to accommodate these new molars and they can cause several oral health problems. Our team at Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay will take x-rays to determine what problems the wisdom teeth might be causing including:

• If your jaw is too small for the wisdom teeth to properly come through the gum line
• If the wisdom teeth are only partially coming through the gums
• If the wisdom teeth are coming in at an angle
• If the wisdom teeth are damaging the adjacent teeth
• If the wisdom teeth are damaging the jaw bone
• If the wisdom teeth are leading to gum infection

If you are experiencing any of these problems, our dentist may recommend you have the wisdom teeth removed to eliminate these problems or to prevent future ones. It’s easiest to have the wisdom teeth extracted before the age of 25. That’s because the wisdom tooth roots are not fully developed at this age 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 will refer you to an oral surgeon who will be able to help you.

Call Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay Today to Schedule an Exam

If you are having a toothache, notice a loose tooth or have a broken tooth, call our office at (786) 619-3434 to schedule a dental exam. We’ll take x-rays, evaluate the condition of your teeth and determine whether the natural tooth or teeth can be saved and restored to health, or if the best option is to remove the damaged or decayed teeth. We look forward to helping you.