Tooth extractions in Homestead, Florida

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

People often call our office for an appointment to have a tooth pulled when they are having a painful toothache. Reasons for tooth extractions include:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth
  An accident or injury as well as normal wear and tear can cause a tooth to break or crack. If the damage is minor, the tooth can be capped with a crown. If the living connective tissue and cells in the center of the tooth, called the pulp, are affected, you may need a root canal before the tooth is crowned. Sometimes, however, the tooth is too damaged to salvage and must be pulled.
• Severe decay (cavity)
  Dental decay results when bacteria erode the tooth enamel and causes a cavity (hole) in the tooth. Small cavities can be repaired with a filling and larger cavities can be fixed with a crown or a root canal plus a crown. If the damage is too severe to save the tooth, however, the dentist may have to extract the tooth.
• Baby tooth retained
  Not all primary or baby teeth fall out naturally to be placed under the pillow for the tooth fairy. Sometimes they remain attached to the jawbone, preventing a permanent tooth from growing in. When this occurs, the dentist may need to pull the baby tooth to make way for the permanent tooth.
• Tooth removal for orthodontic reasons
  Often the jaw of an adolescent is too small to accommodate all of the permanent teeth that have grown in. This can result in teeth crowding each other and forcing the teeth out of their proper positions. To remedy this problem, one or more teeth may need to be extracted. This is often followed by orthodontic treatment to properly align the remaining teeth.
• Severe periodontal disease
  Just as bacteria can attack the enamel of the teeth and cause cavities, it can also target the gums. This type of infection is known as periodontal disease. It causes the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and compromises the ligaments that link the teeth to the jaw bone. People may notice a tooth loosening. Sometimes, the tooth falls out on its own. In other cases, it must be extracted.
• Wisdom tooth problems
  Your third set of molars generally begins to push through the gum line at the back of the jaw between the ages of 17 and 25. Because they begin to come in at the age of maturity, they are known as wisdom teeth. Many people, however, don’t have enough room in their jaws to accommodate this third set of molars. Blocked by an existing tooth, they remain partially or completely beneath the gum line and become impacted. When this occurs, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted tooth.

Oftentimes, the shape and condition of the tooth roots will permit a “simple tooth extraction,” also referred to as an uncomplicated extraction. This type of extraction can be performed right in our Towncare Dental Associates of Homestead office. In other cases, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Homestead

The third set of molars, or four wisdom teeth, typically emerges through the gum line during the later teen or early adult years. Unfortunately, some people don’t have enough room in the jaw to accommodate these new molars and the result can be several oral health problems.

When a patient begins experiencing pain during the emergence of these molars, our team at Towncare Dental Associates of Homestead will take x-rays to determine if the patient has any of the following problems:

• A jaw too small for the wisdom teeth to emerge through the gum line
• Wisdom teeth that are only partially coming through the gums
• Wisdom teeth that are coming in at an angle
• Wisdom teeth that are compromising the adjacent teeth
• Wisdom teeth that are harming the jaw bone
• Wisdom teeth that are causing a gum infection

Extracting the wisdom teeth can eliminate existing problems or prevent future ones. It’s recommended that the wisdom teeth be extracted before the age of 25 because the roots of the teeth aren’t fully developed and the jaw isn’t as dense as it is when you are older.

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 Associates of Homestead Today to Schedule an Exam

If you’re experiencing a toothache or notice a lose tooth, call our office at (786) 738-6500 to schedule a dental exam. We’ll take x-rays and evaluate the condition of your teeth to determine if the tooth can be saved or must be pulled. Whenever possible, our goal is to restore a tooth but there are times when the tooth is too damaged or rotten to salvage. We look forward to helping you.