Tooth Extractions

Lansing, Michigan

There are a number of reasons why Dr. Tenaglia might recommend that you have a tooth, or even several teeth, extracted.

Broken, cracked, or extensively decayed teeth can be extraction candidates.

Some teeth will have extensive decay (dental caries) some will be broken or cracked in such an extreme manner that an extraction might be considered the best treatment. There will be a number of factors that will come into play with any specific situation. In some cases the obstacles that present themselves might be so formidable that a repair for the tooth is simply not possible. In other cases the cost of needed dental treatment or else a long-term outlook for the success of the treatment may be the reason an extraction is chosen. Our goal is to present you with long-term options for the health of your mouth.

Teeth that are unsuitable candidates for root canal treatment should be extracted.

Teeth that are badly broken down and cause pain in your mouth may require treatment of the nerve space that lies within them (root canal treatment). Most teeth typically are candidates for root canal treatment there can be complicating factors that remove this option. If this is the case root canal treatment cannot be performed, Dr. Tenaglia might suggest extracting the tooth as the best option.

Teeth associated with advanced periodontal disease may need to be pulled.

Teeth that have experienced the effects of advanced periodontal disease (gum disease) are teeth whose supporting bone has been damaged. As periodontal disease worsens, a tooth is supported by less and less surrounding bone, often to the point where the tooth becomes loose. Where significant bone damage has occurred and a tooth has become excessively mobile extraction of the tooth may be the only option.

Malpositioned or nonfunctional teeth may need to be extracted.

Some teeth are extracted because they are malpositioned. As an example, sometimes when wisdom teeth come in they lie in a position that proves to be a constant source of irritation to the person's cheek (by either rubbing against the cheek or causing the person to bite it). As a solution, a dentist may suggest that the offending wisdom teeth should be extracted.
Some teeth might be extracted because they provide very little service to the patient but do offer risk for becoming problematic. A common example is a wisdom tooth that has come in but has no matching tooth to bite against. Wisdom teeth are typically in a region of the mouth that is hard to clean, thus placing them and their neighboring tooth at greater risk for decay and periodontal disease. Depending on circumstances, Dr. Tenaglia may advise a patient that removing a nonfunctional tooth might be in their best long-term interest in regards to maintaining good oral health.

Impacted teeth are often extracted. Impacted teeth are teeth whose positioning in the jaw bone is such that they cannot erupt into normal alignment. So by definition, impacted teeth are malpositioned and because they are malpositioned they are often nonfunctional. This combination of factors makes impacted teeth common candidates for extraction.

Tooth extractions may be required in preparation for orthodontic treatment (braces).

When orthodontic treatment is performed for a patient we are trying to perfect the alignment of the patient's teeth but they can only do so within the confines of the size of the person's jaws. In those cases where a large discrepancy exists between the size of the patient's jaws and the needed space required for the improved alignment of their teeth, some strategically located teeth may need to be extracted.

When might a tooth extraction be a bad idea?

While extracting a tooth might be less expensive than the other treatment options your dentist proposes, it may not be the least expensive treatment in the long-run.
When a tooth is removed its neighboring teeth will shift over time, sometimes significantly. Any alignment changes that do occur can have a major impact on your bite and remaining teeth. Removing even a single tooth can lead to problems associated with chewing ability or jaw joint function and gum problems. Teeth whose alignment has changed can become traps for food or be harder to clean thoroughly, thus placing them at greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
To avoid these types of complications, Dr. Tenaglia will recommend to you that you replace any tooth that has been extracted. Replacing a tooth after an extraction with an artificial one can easily cost more than fixing the current tooth.