Ideal Candidates for Single Tooth Extraction

The primary goals of dentistry services are to preserve the health of the teeth to prevent oral complications and then to treat complications that do arise in order to restore health and function to the teeth. In short, dental care is ideally about allowing patients to preserve the health and structure of the natural teeth. Unfortunately, this goal cannot always be accomplished. There are cases in which a tooth has been damaged or injured beyond hopes of repair. In these cases, oral surgery can treat these more challenging cases so that the health and structure of adjacent teeth do not become compromised as well. In many cases, this requires tooth extraction. Below, Dr. Andrew R. Glenn discusses which of his Lincoln patients are single tooth extraction candidates and when this procedure is likely to become necessary.

When is Tooth Extraction Needed?

Because so much of dental care is about preserving and repairing the teeth, many patients are hesitant when tooth extraction is recommended. To pull a tooth seems to go against the goals of dentistry. However, while tooth extraction is always a last resort, it is sometimes necessary and helpful to the health of the adjacent teeth. Tooth extraction may become necessary in the following cases:

• If a tooth has experienced severe degrees of tooth decay
• If a tooth has become infected beyond treatment
• If an injury or traumatic blow has caused the tooth to become “dead”
• If a wisdom tooth is causing discomfort or compromising the health or structure of the mouth and adjacent teeth

In each of these cases, if the tooth cannot be saved (or is not necessary, in the case of wisdom teeth), the goal of extraction is to protect the health of the patient’s remaining natural teeth and to prevent further oral complications.

Candidates

Candidates for single tooth extraction are those who are experiencing any of the above oral concerns. If the tooth is not broken or severely damaged, single tooth extraction can be a fairly simple procedure. Using local anesthesia, it may be possible to grasp the tooth to loosen and extract it. For impacted teeth or those that are broken or severely damaged, the procedure will likely require oral surgery under general anesthesia. Ideal candidates for oral surgery are those who are in good overall health and who do not face an increased risk of surgical complications.

After Extraction

Once a tooth has been extracted, restorative dental care will be necessary. It is important to replace the pulled tooth in order to preserve the structure of the mouth, restore oral functions, and maintain the appearance of the smile. There are a number of restorative treatment options for patients who have undergone single tooth extraction. The most common treatments for the loss of a single tooth are dental implants and a dental bridge. Dr. Glenn can discuss these options with patients who have undergone extraction.

Schedule a Consultation

If a tooth has severe damage or decay and is in need of extraction, Dr. Andrew R. Glenn can help. Dr. Glenn has training and experience in oral surgery and can successfully extract damaged teeth to preserve the overall health of the smile. To learn more about our oral surgery services, schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you!

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