Why Does My Tooth Need to be Pulled?

It’s never a great thing to hear when your dentist tells you that your tooth needs to be pulled. You might ask, “Does the tooth absolutely have to be extracted?”

A lot of folks argue that if the tooth isn’t bothering them, then they don’t need it removed. But is that really safe reasoning? Michael J. Aiello, DDS makes your dental health top priority. We only recommend treatment that’s for the benefit of your entire smile.

Here are a few common reasons why we would advise you to have a tooth extracted.

1. Impacted Wisdom Teeth

When the 3rd molars become impacted, they can cause permanent damage to other teeth. Not to mention, they can put you in a lot of discomfort!

2. Gum Disease

Advanced gum disease will cause a tooth to lose gum and bone support, which can spread to neighboring teeth.

3. Severe Fracture

Perhaps because of a traumatic injury, your tooth may be damaged beyond repair.

4. Extensive Decay

It may be that in your case, a root canal and crown can’t guarantee a healthy future for a severely decayed tooth. If we suspect that the tooth won’t withstand normal use, it’s best to not pour time and money into restoring it.

If Your Tooth Is Not Extracted…

Letting a damaged tooth stay where it is can have disastrous effects on the rest of your mouth.
Take an abscessed tooth as an example. Even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, the bacterial infection can damage teeth and bone around it. Waiting too long to treat it with a root canal may mean there isn’t enough tooth left to restore.

Getting it pulled can guard you against bigger problems later on… saving you time, energy, pain, and money. It’s best to have the tooth pulled proactively, before you’re in excruciating pain that pops up when you least expect it.

After your tooth is pulled, our Clinton Township dentist will help you replace it before other teeth shift out of place. Schedule a visit to Dr. Aiello to find out more!