Your dentist always want to save your tooth, but sometimes that is not a viable option. There are times when a dental extraction is necessary to protect both your oral and overall health. Sometimes, tooth decay progresses so far that it causes a severe infection. There are situations like an accident or injury where the damage the tooth is too extensive to be repaired. In some cases, extraction is done to protect the rest of the teeth. Wisdom teeth, for example, are often removed to prevent overcrowding in the mouth. Extraction may not save the tooth, but it may save the smile.  (more…)

By the time a tooth’s decay progresses to the point of needing root canal therapy, it can be on the brink of a necessary extraction. A root canal treatment can rescue a tooth from needing to be extracted. Tooth decay is a progressive disease meaning it will worsen without treatment. Early tooth decay can be reversed before it breaks through the enamel. Once the decay has formed a cavity in the outer layer of the tooth, a filling is needed to disinfect the decay and repair the tooth. If not treated, the decay will get deeper inside the tooth until it reaches the nerves causing pain and a toothache. At this point, the inner pulp and roots will be infected, which is when a root canal may be needed. Without a root canal, the infection may cause an abscess and enter the bloodstream to cause problems for other parts of the body. An extraction may be necessary to stop this from happening.  (more…)

Missing teeth can cause heaps of problems for your oral health ranging from bone loss to inability to chew and speak to a lack in your smile’s appearance. A dental bridge is a common prosthetic device designed to replace one to three adjacent teeth by mounting onto existing teeth surrounding the void of the missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth/teeth are called abutment teeth and the replacement tooth is called a pontic. People with more than three missing teeth or with multiple teeth missing in random spread-out places across the mouth may want to look into partial dentures. (more…)

Dental caries is the scientific, medical term for tooth decay. Studies by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research have shown that 92% of American adults have had dental caries in their primary adult teeth, which means the odds are good that you have had or will have tooth decay. Tooth decay causes cavities. Untreated cavities can worsen and cause problems for your teeth; tooth decay can even lead to an extraction. Along with causes oral health issues, tooth decay can lead to infection that can spread to other parts of your body. Tooth decay can be treated early. Treating a cavity with a filling can prevent infection or a necessary extraction.  (more…)