Tooth extractions in Lauderhill, Florida

A tooth removal, also called a tooth extraction, is a common procedure. And, most times, it can be done right in the dentist’s chair at our dental office in Lauderhill. That’s because teeth are not firmly attached to the jaw bone. They’re attached by fibers called periodontal ligaments.

By carefully manipulating a tooth, the dentist can detach the ligaments and extract the tooth with little difficulty.

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

Many people call our office when they’re experiencing a painful toothache. All they want is to have the offending tooth removed so the pain will go away. But an extraction isn’t always the solution to tooth pain. Common reasons for tooth extractions include:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth Accidents, injuries, tooth decay and even biting down on a hard piece of food can cause a tooth to break or crack. In many cases, the tooth can be fixed by placing a crown over it. In cases where the damage has reached the pulp of the tooth, the tooth may need a root canal before it is crowned. There are times, however, when the tooth is so severely damaged or rotten that it cannot be saved and the dentist will recommend extracting it.
• Severe decay (cavity) Despite a rigorous daily regimen of brushing and flossing, bacteria can be left behind on a tooth, causing dental decay. This decay erodes the enamel of the tooth, causing a cavity, which is literally a hole in the tooth. Small cavities can be repaired with a filling and larger cavities can usually be fixed with a crown. If you have a severely infected tooth and are in pain, a root canal may be a viable toothache remedy. If not, the dentist may recommend the tooth be pulled.
• Baby tooth retained Starting at the age of 5 or 6, children begin to lose their primary teeth, known as baby teeth. But there are times when a baby tooth does not fall out on its own, and the permanent tooth behind it cannot emerge through the gum line. In this case, the dentist will remove the retained baby tooth so the permanent tooth is able to come through.
• Teeth too crowded The majority of your permanent teeth emerge by the time you are 13 or 14 years old. But sometimes the jaw is too small to hold all 28 teeth in proper alignment. They can crowd each other and force the teeth 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.
• Teeth unstable because of advanced periodontal disease Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is caused by bacteria attacking the gum tissue. As the infection progresses, the gum pulls away from the tooth and erodes the ligaments holding the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or need to be extracted.
• Problem with wisdom teeth A third set of molars typically push through the gum line at the back of the jaw when a person is between the ages of 17 and 25. Because they emerge at the age of maturity, they are known as wisdom teeth. In many cases, however, there is not room for the wisdom teeth to come in. If the wisdom tooth remains partially or completely under the gum line and impacts 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 tooth.

If our dentist in Lauderhill 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 our Towncare Dental of Lauderhill office. Sometimes, however, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Lauderhill

Most people have four wisdom teeth that come through the gum line during the later teen/early adult years. Frequently, though, there is not enough room in the jaw for these molars to properly emerge. Our team at Towncare Dental of Lauderhill will take x-rays to determine if the wisdom teeth are causing any of these problems:

• 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

If the x-rays indicate any of these problems, our dentist may recommend you have the wisdom teeth removed. 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 and the jaw bone is not as dense as it will be when you’re 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 of Lauderhill Today to Schedule an Exam

The first step to determining whether you need to have any teeth extracted is to schedule a dental exam. After taking x-rays and evaluating the condition of your teeth, we will determine whether the tooth can be restored to health or whether an extraction is needed.

Call our office today at (954) 246-4835 to schedule an exam. We look forward to helping you.