3 Instances a Tooth needs to be Pulled

Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Lincolnshire IL

Practicing good oral hygiene keeps your teeth and gums healthy. It helps avoid the need for extensive dental treatments like getting a tooth pulled. At Lake Forest Smiles, we offer restorative treatment options to repair damaged teeth. But sometimes an extraction is the best choice. Today on the blog, find out three situations when pulling a tooth may be your best bet.

1. Your wisdom teeth partially erupt or are impacted.

Wisdom teeth rarely erupt fully without affecting nearby teeth. Usually, third molars partially erupt, which means part of the tooth remains under the gum. Partially erupted teeth are difficult to clean, often leading to gum infections and pain. Impacted wisdom teeth lie sideways under the gums, which exerts tremendous pressure on the back teeth. You might notice your other teeth becoming slightly crooked. If either of these situations is the case for you, wisdom teeth extraction might be in your future.

2. A tooth is badly damaged or irreparable.

A broken, chipped, or decayed tooth often can be repaired with restorative treatment like cosmetic bonding, a dental crown or porcelain veneer. However, cases where the tooth is broken below the gum line, or there isn’t enough tooth structure to sustain a restoration likely will need extracting. Routine dental visits are essential for this reason. These appointments allow the dentist to discover potential dental issues that may later lead to extensive repairs, if not treated properly. It’s much easier to repair a failed filling or small tooth fracture rather than waiting until extensive damage occurs.

3. A tooth has extensive decay or infection.

In cases of extensive decay or infection (abscess), the tooth may need to be pulled. However, root canal therapy may be an option to save a severely decayed or infected tooth. A root canal is like having a deep filling where the dentist cleans the tooth’s chamber, which is the internal structure of the tooth housing the blood supply and nerves, and then fills this area with a special material. The final step is to fabricate a custom dental crown to fit over the tooth’s exterior. Dental crowns add strength and stability to a tooth following a root canal.

What happens after my tooth is extracted?

At Lake Forest Smiles, we recommend saving your natural tooth whenever possible. However, we understand that it’s ultimately your decision. After an extraction, you may have the option to replace your missing tooth, which provides bite stability and improves self-confidence by filling the gap in your smile. Lake Forest Smiles offers dental bridges, partial dentures, and dental implants to replace a missing tooth. The process for bridgework and partial dentures can start as soon as your tooth is extracted, while getting a dental implant may require waiting a few months for the jawbone to heal.

If you wonder whether you should get a tooth pulled in Lake Bluff, or want to find out your options for saving a bad tooth in Lincolnshire, contact Drs. Douglas Campbell and David Schmidt by calling (847) 234-4800. Schedule your consultation today to discuss your dental care needs and present the best treatment options for you. Our dental office is conveniently located in Lake Forest, serving the communities of Lake Bluff, and Lincolnshire.