Tooth extractions in Hollywood, Florida

Pulling a tooth is also called a tooth removal or a tooth extraction. It’s a common procedure that’s recommended when a tooth is too rotten or too damaged to restore. Teeth are not rigidly fixed to the jaw bone. They’re connected to the bone by fibers called periodontal ligaments. By carefully manipulating a tooth, the ligaments can be dislodged and the tooth can be pulled out.

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

There are several reasons why people come to Dental Associates of Hollywood to have a tooth removed. Common reasons for pulling teeth include:

Severely cracked or broken tooth

Often a tooth that has been cracked or broken due to an accident or injury can be restored by placing a cap over the tooth, known as a crown. When the damage to the tooth has reached the connective tissue in the middle of the tooth, called the pulp, a root canal may be required before the tooth is capped. There are times, however, when it’s not possible to restore the damaged tooth and it must be removed.

Severe decay (cavity)

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 typically be fixed with a crown. If you have a severely infected tooth and are in pain, the dentist may recommend a root canal before placing a crown on the tooth. If a root canal is not a viable toothache remedy, then the dentist may have to pull the tooth.

Baby tooth retained

A retained baby tooth is a primary tooth that does not fall out on its own. This prevents the permanent tooth behind it from emerging through the gum line. The dentist may have to remove the baby tooth so the permanent tooth is able to come through.

Severely crowded teeth

Sometimes the jaw is too small to hold all the teeth in proper alignment. The teeth can crowd each other, shifting them out of position. A dentist may extract a tooth to make room for the other teeth. Often, an extraction of a tooth is followed by orthodontic treatment including braces to properly align the remaining teeth.

Advanced periodontal (gum) disease

Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. Just like the bacteria in your mouth can attack the enamel of the tooth and create cavities, the bacteria can attack the gum tissue, causing it to pull away from the tooth and erode the ligaments securing the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or need to be extracted. Learn More

Impacted wisdom tooth or teeth

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. In many cases, there is not room for the wisdom teeth to come in. If the wisdom tooth remains partially or completely under the gum line and is impacting the tooth next to it, it’s called an impacted wisdom tooth. A dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted wisdom tooth.

If our dentist in Hollywood refers to the type of extraction you need as a “simple tooth extraction,” that 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 the comfort of our Dental Associates of Hollywood. In some cases, however, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Hollywood

Most people have a set of third molars that begin erupting through the gum line during the later teen or early adult years. These are called wisdom teeth because they begin growing at the age of maturity. Many times there is not enough room in the jaw to accommodate the third set of molars. When they try to push their way through the gum line, they can cause several problems. Our team at Dental Associates of Hollywood will take x-rays and check for the following problems:

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

Our dentist may recommend extracting the wisdom teeth to eliminate existing problems or prevent future ones. It’s easiest to have the wisdom teeth extracted before the age of 25 because the wisdom tooth roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense as when you’re older. If our dentist cannot extract the wisdom tooth, we’ll refer you to an oral.

Call Dental Associates of Hollywood 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, evaluate the condition of your teeth and determine whether the natural tooth or teeth can be saved or must be pulled. Then we’ll discuss your concerns and options We look forward to helping you. Call our office today at (954) 246-4851 to schedule an exam.