Tooth extractions in Miami Beach, Florida

When a dentist pulls a tooth, it’s known as a tooth extraction or tooth removal. Usually, it’s a simple procedure. Teeth are not rigidly fixed to the jaw bone. Instead, they’re attached to the bone by fibers called periodontal ligaments. By carefully manipulating a tooth, our dentist in Miami Beach can detach these ligaments and remove the tooth.

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

There are several reasons why people come to Miami Beach Dental Center to have a tooth removed. Common reasons for tooth extractions include:

• Severely cracked or broken tooth
  People often call our office when an injury or accident has cracked or broken a tooth. Often, a cracked or broken can be fixed with a crown, or a cap over the tooth. When the damage has reached the tissue in the center of the tooth called the pulp, the tooth may require a root canal before it is crowned. However, there are times when the tooth is so severely damaged that it cannot be saved. In those cases, our dentist will recommend the damaged tooth be removed.
• Severe decay (cavity)
  Dental decay is caused by bacteria that targets the enamel of the tooth and causes a hole known as a cavity. Small cavities can be fixed with a filling and larger cavities can usually be fixed with a crown. However, if the tooth is severely infected tooth and you are in pain, the dentist may recommend a root canal. If a root canal is not possible, the dentist may recommend the tooth be pulled.
• Baby tooth doesn’t fall out
  Sometimes a primary tooth, or baby tooth, fails to fall out naturally. The retained baby tooth will prevent the permanent tooth from emerging properly and will need to be pulled by the dentist so the permanent tooth can grow in.
• Tooth removal needed before braces placed
  Children eagerly anticipate losing a baby tooth and placing it beneath their pillow for the tooth fairy. Most of the permanent teeth emerge during childhood but, sometimes, the jaw is too small to hold the teeth in proper alignment. The dentist may extract one or more teeth to prevent them from crowding the other teeth. This is often followed by the use of braces or other orthodontic treatment to straighten the remaining teeth.
• Gum disease loosened teeth
  Just like bacteria can attack the enamel of the tooth and cause a cavity, it can also target the gums, resulting in periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. As a result, the gums pull away from the tooth and compromise the ligaments that attach the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or require pulling.
• Wisdom teeth don’t come in properly
  A third set of molars begin to emerge when a person is between the ages of 17 and 25. Because they appear when a person has reached maturity, they are known as wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, there is not always enough room in the jaw to accommodate these new molars. They can become partially or completely impacted under the gum and require removal by an oral surgeon.

Our dentist in Miami Beach may refer to the type of extraction you need as a “simple tooth extraction.” That means the dentist has concluded 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 Miami Beach Dental Center office. In other cases, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Miami Beach

Most people have four wisdom teeth that come through the gum line during the later teen or early adult years. Their official name is third molars. When there is not enough room in the jaw for these molars to push their way up past the gum line, they may cause several oral health problems.

Our team at Miami Beach Dental Center will take s x-rays to see if the wisdom teeth are causing any problems such as:

• If your 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 leading to gum infection

If any of these problems are occurring, our dentist may recommend you have the wisdom teeth removed. It’s easiest to have the wisdom teeth removed before the age of 25 because the roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense as it will be 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 Miami Beach Dental Center Today to Schedule an Exam

If you have a toothache and suspect you need to have a tooth pulled, call our office at (786) 838-4176 to schedule a dental exam. We’ll take x-rays, evaluate the condition of your teeth and discuss your concerns before determining whether the natural tooth can be saved and restored to health or if it needs to be pulled.