Extractions

Although permanent teeth can last a lifetime, teeth that have become damaged or decayed may need to be removed or extracted. Other reasons include:

A CROWDED MOUTH

On occasion, we extract teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontics. The goal of orthodontics is to properly align the teeth, which may not be possible if your teeth are too big for your mouth. Likewise, if a tooth cannot break through the gum (erupt) meaning that there is not enough room in the mouth for the tooth to erupt. In cases like this, we will recommend extraction.

INFECTION

If tooth decay or damage extends to the pulp (the centre of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels) bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp, leading to infection. If the infection is severe enough that antibiotics cannot cure it, extraction may be needed to prevent the spread of the infection.

RISK OF INFECTION

If your immune system is compromised (for example, if you are receiving chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant) the risk of infection in a particular tooth may be the reason to remove the tooth.

GUM DISEASE

A very common disease where the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth become infected. This may cause the teeth to loosen and it may be necessary to extract the tooth or teeth.

WISDOM TEETH

Wisdom tooth extraction – Wisdom teeth that have become impacted or haven’t fully broken through the surface of the gum can cause dental problems. Food and bacteria can get trapped around the edge of the wisdom teeth, causing a build-up of plaque, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and other problems.

Your wisdom teeth don’t usually need to be removed if they are impacted but they are not causing any problems. This is because there is no proven benefit to doing this and it carries the risk of complications.