No one wants to hear about needing surgery, but in some instances, it’s necessary for safeguarding your wellness. If your dentist indicates that your tooth needs to be surgically extracted, you may find yourself wanting some more information. The team from Four Corners Dental Group sheds some light on the topic below.

There are three main reasons why a tooth needs to be extracted: disease, crowding, or trauma. For instance, if a tooth has become so badly decayed a crown or filling will no longer suffice to salvage it, your dentist may recommend extraction. Infected teeth remaining abscessed even after root canal treatments may also need to be removed.

When a child’s teeth are growing, it’s also possible for a dentist or orthodontist to recommend one or more extractions prior to starting treatments, such as palate expanders or braces. Crowded teeth can lead to further dental complications down the road and therefore, may need to be taken out entirely. Likewise, wisdom teeth can create crowding and may also be sites for infection, which is why dental care professionals typically recommend having them removed.

Sometimes, extractions can be performed during a routine visit to the dentist’s office. This is called a “simple” extraction. For this procedure to take place, the tooth must be visible above the gums. Surgical extractions, on the other hand, require a dentist to remove the gum or bone in order to remove an impacted tooth (one that is still beneath the gum line).

While tooth extractions aren’t anyone’s favorite activity, they are extremely common, and the dentists at Four Corners Dental Group will make sure you’re as comfortable as possible during and after your procedure. To learn more about extractions and other affordable dental care services available through this practice, call (907) 258-3384 for the Anchorage office, (907) 376-2790 for the Wasilla facility, or visit the website for more information.