Signs You May Need a Tooth Extracted

Could your mouth be trying to tell you that you could benefit from a tooth extraction?

While the goal is to maintain a healthy, full smile, there are some instances in which our River Forest, IL, dentists, Dr. Gina Piccioni and Dr. John Hartmann, will recommend having a tooth removed in order to preserve your oral health. When might this happen? If you are dealing with any of these issues then a tooth extraction could be in your future:

• An impacted wisdom tooth
• A severely cracked or infected tooth
• A loose tooth
• Advanced gum disease
• Severe overcrowding

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

These molars usually don’t come in until your teen years or your early twenties. While they can come in healthy and not cause issues for your smile, more often than not wisdom teeth don’t fully erupt through the gums (better known as impacted teeth) or they come in crooked. Wisdom teeth that don’t come in healthy can damage other teeth, or increase your chances of decay, gum disease, or infection. This is why it’s often a good idea to have them removed.

Severely Cracked Tooth

While a cracked or broken tooth can be treated by shaving down the damaged tooth and placing a dental crown, if the crack is extensive enough that it goes below the gumline then the tooth is not able to be fully restored with dental treatment. The only option will be for our River Forest general dentists to remove the tooth and then help you decide the best way to replace the tooth.

A Loose Tooth

A tooth can become partially dislodged due to a sports injury or advanced gum disease (a common complication of untreated gum disease). While sometimes a loose tooth can be saved if you seek immediate treatment, there are some instances where a loose tooth is just beyond repair. Again, besides removing the tooth we will also talk to you about the best tooth replacement option to meet your needs.

Overcrowding

If your teeth are on top of one another then you are dealing with crowding. This is a common misalignment problem but one that can easily be fixed with orthodontic treatment; however, in order to ensure that your orthodontic treatment is as efficient as possible, your dentist may recommend removing one or two teeth to free up some space to make it easier for teeth to shift and move around.

If you are dealing with any of the issues above and need to talk to a family dentist in River Forest, IL, that you can trust, then it’s time to turn to our dental experts here at River Forest Dental Studio. We pride ourselves on offering only the very best in dental care.