When is a tooth extraction necessary?
It’s not just children that need teeth extracted. Sometimes adults need teeth extracted as well. There are several common reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary.
- The tooth may need to be extracted because it is too badly damaged from trauma and cannot be saved.
- The tooth may need to be extracted because of severe tooth decay. When severe tooth decay has extended to the dental pulp (the area inside of a tooth), it may result in an infected tooth that cannot be corrected by a root canal. If the infected tooth cannot be corrected by a root canal, it will need to be extracted to prevent the spread of infection.
- To properly align and straighten teeth, one or more teeth may need to be removed when the teeth are too big for the mouth. Likewise, if there isn’t enough room in the mouth for a tooth, at may not be able to break through the gum and will need to be removed.
- If a person has periodontal disease (an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth), this may lead to loosening of the teeth and a dental extraction may be necessary.
- A tooth may also need to be extracted if a person has an infected tooth and their immune system is compromised (for example, if they are undergoing chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant).