Tooth Extraction: Pro’s and Con’s

A sometimes-feared procedure, tooth extractions require thought and careful consideration.

Moreover, they are easier to perform now than they have ever been. However, when is it truly time for a tooth extraction instead of a repair?

What effects can removing teeth have on your mouth and overall dental health?

When is it time to remove a damaged tooth?

That question is going to be something the patient will have to answer for themselves.

However, there are some instances where tooth extraction is an unfortunate necessity.

If a tooth is causing near-constant pain, feels swollen and is chronically hindering, it may be time to go to the dentist for a consultation.

How is it performed?

These are the most common methods used for professional tooth extraction:

1. Extraction via surgery: Dentists use this method on teeth that have taken a real beating or have disintegrated to the point where only shards or pieces remain. This procedure is costlier, more painful and more invasive, involving a gum incision and even bone-removal or shaving.
2. Extraction without surgery: In this version, pliers, or medically known as forceps, remove the teeth from the mouth with some gentle pressure.

The pros of tooth extraction

There is a great deal of benefits to having a tooth extracted. Here are a few:

Wisdom teeth that are still intact can lead to inflamed gums and even sepsis. They can also affect the alignment of your teeth.

Unhealthy or rotting teeth can not only cause a lot of pain, but they can lead to further complications down the road. No one wants to undergo a super-invasive and painful procedure like a root canal when they could have avoided it with timelier tooth extraction.

The cons of tooth extraction

For one, tooth extraction removes the original and natural tooth, which can have downsides.

The loss of a tooth can actually affect the shape of the face; it is true. Even a minor tooth removal could change the contours of the cheeks.

The missing tooth also leaves a gap, which could cause the teeth on either side to change. The teeth around a gap tend to lean inward, creating a tilt from the lack of pressure where the original tooth was. This could lead to future dental trouble, and possibly even future tooth removal.

Missing teeth can also affect speech — there may be some slurring or other noticeable changes in the way a patient talks after. This is often self-correcting over time but can be an inconvenience.

Don’t Wait on a Tooth Extraction

It’s clear that waiting on a tooth extraction can often lead to worse trouble down the road.

Of course, that will depend greatly on the state of your teeth, what your dentist thinks, and where the tooth is located.

Are you considering tooth extraction in the Gilroy area? Get more tooth extraction information at .