Tooth extractions in Plantation, Florida

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

There are several reasons why people come to Superior Dental to have a tooth removed. They include:

Severely cracked or broken tooth

Despite the durability of our teeth, they are still vulnerable to injury, accidents or decay that can cause a break or crack. In many cases, a tooth that is cracked or broken can be repaired by capping the tooth with a crown. In cases where the damage has reached the pulp of the tooth, the tooth may need a root canal before it is topped with a crown. There are times, however, when the tooth is so severely damaged that it cannot be saved. In those cases, our dentist will recommend the damaged tooth or rotten teeth be removed.

Severe decay (cavity)

Dental decay is a tooth’s worst enemy. It’s an infection that erodes the tooth enamel causing a cavity (hole) in the tooth. Luckily, small cavities can be fixed with a filling and larger cavities can typically be fixed with a crown or a combination of a root canal and a crown. However, if you have a severely infected tooth and are in pain, the dentist may recommend the tooth be pulled.

Baby tooth retained

Losing a baby tooth is a rite of passage for children starting at the age of 5 or 6. But sometimes a primary tooth does not fall out on its own. When this happens, the permanent tooth behind it cannot emerge through the gum line. The dentist, therefore, will remove the baby tooth so the permanent tooth is able to come through.

Pre-orthodontic treatment

There’s a reason why so many teens have to get braces or other orthodontic device. Oftentimes, their jaws are too small to hold all of their permanent teeth in proper alignment. As a result, the teeth overlap and shift out of position. When this occurs, the dentist may extract a tooth in make room for the other teeth. Often, this procedure is followed by orthodontic treatment including braces to properly align the remaining teeth.

Tooth unstable from gum disease

Just as bacteria in your mouth can attack the enamel of the tooth and create cavities, it can also attack the gums, causing periodontal, or gum, disease. As the disease progresses, it causes the gum tissue to pull away from the tooth and compromises the ligaments that connect the tooth to the jaw bone. If the tooth becomes too loose, it can fall out or need to be extracted.

Mouth too small for wisdom teeth to come in properly

Between the ages of 17 and 25, a third set of molars begin to emerge through the gum line at the back of the jaw. Because they appear at the age of maturity, they are known as wisdom teeth. But, in many cases, there is not room in the jaw for the wisdom teeth to properly grow 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. The dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted tooth.

If you hear our dentist in Plantation refer to the type of extraction you need as a “simple tooth extraction,” it means the dentist has determined that 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 Superior Dental office. If the extraction is determined to be more complicated, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Plantation

Most people have four wisdom teeth that emerge through the gum line during the later teen/early adult years. This third set of molars make up the 32 permanent teeth found in most human beings. Often times, however, these new molars can create problems. Our team at Superior Dental will take x-rays to see if your wisdom teeth are causing any problems such as:

• 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 leading to gum infection

If you are having 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 because the wisdom tooth roots are not fully developed yet 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’ll refer you to an oral surgeon who will be able to help you.

Call Superior Dental 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 and restored to health, or if the best option is to remove the damaged teeth. Call our office today at (954) 519-2224 to schedule an exam. We look forward to helping you.