When Is Tooth Extraction Necessary?
At the cosmetic, implant, and family dentistry practice of Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky, we believe that every beautiful smile is built upon a foundation of good oral health and excellent dental hygiene. It is for this reason that we offer a comprehensive range of preventive and general dentistry services, all designed to help patients maintain the health of their teeth and gums. And when patients do suffer damage to their teeth, we offer quality restorative dentistry to salvage these essential tissues and return them to full form and function.
There are occasions, however, when preserving the natural teeth is not the best approach. On these occasions, we provide tooth extraction treatment at our Edmonton, AB general dentistry practice. Of course, when tooth extraction is necessary, we also provide patients with treatment plans to replace the missing teeth and restore health, function, and aesthetics to the mouth. There are few greater threats to a person’s oral health than missing teeth, so tooth extraction should be considered only the first step in a long-term plan to restore a patient’s mouth.
When Would Tooth Extraction Be Recommended?
First, let’s make one thing very clear: whenever it is possible to salvage a natural tooth, Dr. Podilsky will recommend doing so. When a natural tooth is missing, the body interprets the loss as a sign that the hard and soft tissues that once supported the tooth are no longer serving any essential function. As a result, the gum and jawbone in the vicinity of the missing tooth begin to deteriorate. At the same time, the teeth adjacent to the gap where the missing tooth once resided begin to drift out of their optimal positions. In short, the loss of a natural tooth creates nothing but problems.
Therefore, Dr. Podilsky will recommend tooth extraction only in cases in which the tooth is too damaged to be salvaged or is likely to create further oral health problems if it remains in the mouth. However, upon extraction, the tooth will need to be replaced as soon as possible. The premier method of replacing missing teeth is with an implant-supported restoration.
Tooth Extraction in Conjunction with Dental Implants
Often, tooth extraction is performed in conjunction with implant dentistry. Whether Dr. Podilsky removes one badly damaged tooth and replaces it with a single implant-supported crown, or he removes multiple teeth and replaces them with a full set of implant-supported dentures as part of a full mouth restoration plan, dental implants represent the next best thing to having a full mouth of healthy natural teeth.
Dental implants are titanium posts that act as artificial tooth roots when embedded into the jaw. Because the human body does not recognize titanium as a foreign substance, it is unlikely to reject the implants. Just as importantly, the implants therefore halt the bone degradation process that occurs when teeth are lost.
Learn More about Tooth Extraction
To learn more about tooth extraction, or to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Podilsky, please contact our cosmetic, implant, and family dentistry practice today.
