Tooth Extractions in Springfield

What Are the Signs that a Tooth Needs to Be Pulled?

You may need to have one or several teeth pulled if they have become overcrowded, broken, infected or impacted. Our team at Dental One Associates of Springfield looks forward to working with you to ensure your dental issues are handled in a timely manner and that you are as comfortable as possible during any procedure.

Teeth are not rigidly fixed to your jaw bone. They are attached to the jaw by fibers called periodontal ligaments. Our dentist can carefully manipulate your tooth, detaching the ligaments so the tooth can be extracted.

Why a Tooth May Need to be Removed

There are several reasons why people come to our Dental One Associates of Springfield to inquire about tooth extraction. Common reasons for tooth removal include:

Severely cracked or broken tooth

Cracked or broken teeth can, in many cases, be repaired with a crown. In other cases, the damage has gotten in to the pulp of the tooth and the tooth needs a root canal and a crown to repair it. However, there are times when a tooth may be so severely damaged or decayed that it cannot be saved. Our dentist can make that determination, then let you know if the damaged tooth or rotten teeth need be removed.

Severe decay (cavity)

Dental decay is an infection that erodes the tooth enamel, which can cause holes, or cavities to form on a tooth. Small cavities can be repaired with a filling. Larger cavities can typically be fixed with a crown. If you have a severely infected tooth and are in pain, you have two options for toothache relief. The first option is a root canal. But if that turns out not to be viable, then the dentist may recommend the tooth be pulled.

Baby tooth retained

A retained baby tooth is a primary tooth that has not fallen out on its own. That means the permanent tooth behind is not able to emerge through the gum line. In this case, the dentist will remove the baby tooth so the permanent tooth can come through.

Crowded teeth / Tooth removal for orthodontic treatment

Sometimes the jaw is too small to hold all your teeth in proper alignment. Your teeth can crowd each other, which could force them out of position. Our dentist may extract your tooth to make room for the remainder of your teeth. Often, a tooth extraction is followed by orthodontic treatment, which may include braces to properly align the remaining teeth.

Advanced periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. The same bacteria that causes you to get cavities can attack the gum tissue, which can cause teeth to loosen. Once a tooth becomes loose, it will either fall out on its own or need to be pulled.

Impacted wisdom tooth

Wisdom teeth are the third molars that typically push through the gum line at the back of the jaw when a person is between the ages of 17 and 25 years old. Wisdom teeth don’t always have enough space to fit in to your jaw line properly. If a wisdom tooth remains partially or completely under the gum line and is affecting the tooth next to it, it’s called an impacted wisdom tooth. Our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to remove the impacted tooth.

If you hear our dentist in Springfield refer to the type of extraction you require as a “simple tooth extraction,” that means the dentist anticipates the shape and condition of the tooth roots will allow it to come out easily. This is also referred to as an uncomplicated extraction.

Generally speaking, a tooth extraction is a very routine procedure that can be performed by the general dentist right in the comfort of our Dental One Associates of Springfield. In some cases, however, our dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to perform the tooth extraction.

Wisdom Tooth Removal in Springfield

Most people have four wisdom teeth that appear in the very back of the jaw during the later teen/early adult years. The official name for these teeth is third molars.

There is rarely enough room for this third set of molars, trying to crowd their way in to an already full jaw. When this happens, several oral health issues might occur. When our team at Dental One Associates of Springfield takes your x-rays, we check to see if your wisdom teeth are causing any problems such as:

• If your jaw is too small to accommodate your wisdom teeth
• The wisdom teeth are only partially coming through your gum line
• The wisdom teeth are coming in at an angle
• Your third molars are damaging the adjacent teeth
• The wisdom teeth are damaging the jaw bone
• The wisdom teeth are leading to gum infection

Our dentist may recommend you have your wisdom teeth extracted to eliminate your existing problems or to prevent future ones. It’s easiest to have wisdom teeth extracted before you turn 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 your wisdom tooth procedure, then we’ll refer you to an oral surgeon who can help you.

Call Dental One Associates of Springfield 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 discuss your options and concerns. Then we can determine whether your natural tooth or teeth can be saved and restored, or if the best option is to remove the damaged teeth.