Gateway Family Dental Blog
4 Signs A Tooth Needs To Be Pulled
For most people, getting a tooth pulled
is a terrifying prospect. It’s painful, can ruin your smile and may cause your remaining teeth to shift.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes necessary to have a tooth pulled to avoid even worse dental consequences.
Today, we’re exploring some of the key signs that you might need a tooth extraction.
The Tooth Is Impacted
An impacted tooth has been blocked from erupting (growing through) the gum naturally. The tooth remains under the gumline, sometimes only erupting partially as it grows.
Impacted teeth cause a number of problems. They’re extremely hard to clean, so they can cause gum irritation and may even lead to gum disease. They may also cause dangerous abscesses (an infection site that fills with bacteria and pus), leading to intense, prolonged dental pain.
Impacted teeth can also cause problems with nearby teeth, causing shifting and even tooth damage.
So how do you know if you have an impacted tooth?
The wisdom teeth
(the third molars) are most likely to become impacted. Check for these symptoms of impaction:
- Redness and swelling in the surrounding gum
- Pain and tenderness in the surrounding gum and jaw muscle
- Chronic headache
- Bad breath
- Pain when opening or closing the mouth
- Unpleasant taste
Some individuals with impacted teeth experience no symptoms. However, your dentist will be able to spot an impacted tooth through routine x-rays
and a dental examination.
You Experience Regular Toothaches
Pain in a tooth can be a sign of many issues. Occasional toothaches due to sensitivity or mild temporomandibular pain are not typically serious and can be treated using over-the-counter pain relievers like NSAIDs. A severe toothache, however, may have more serious underlying causes. The most common issue is tooth root infection, a condition that requires a root canal procedure to get rid of harmful bacteria and preserve the tooth.
For teeth that regularly become infected, root canal treatment
may not be enough to prevent pain and discomfort. If the infection has spread, your best option may be a dental extraction.
You Have Severe Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the prolonged infection of the gums
and surrounding tissues caused by a buildup of plaque along and under the gumline. Severe periodontal disease can lead to puffy, bleeding gums and even tooth loss.
Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Bad breath
- Tooth sensitivity
- Gum recession (causing the teeth to appear longer)
- Red, puffy gums that bleed easily
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Teeth that feel loose or jiggly
- Change in the location of your teeth, causing an altered bite pattern
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to visit a dentist right away. You may need a deep dental cleaning to remove the buildup of calculus deposits around and under your gums. Without treatment, periodontal disease can damage the bones in the jaw, leading to tooth loss.
You Have Extensive Tooth Decay
Dental caries (cavities) can generally be repaired using fillings, crowns or dental bridges. However, decay is sometimes so extensive that a tooth needs to be extracted to prevent serious infection.
Tooth decay is often accompanied by sensitivity and tooth pain that occurs even when you aren’t eating or drinking. You may also be able to see physical discoloration, pits or holes in the tooth.
Tooth Extraction at Gateway Family Dentistry in Murfreesboro, TN
Are you experiencing severe tooth pain, obvious decay, facial swelling or intense pain in your temporomandibular joint?
If you answered yes, it’s important to visit a dentist immediately.
Gateway Family Dentistry in Murfreesboro, TN specializes in painless tooth extraction that removes infection and provides relief for constant pain.
Our expert dental team
performs extractions of impacted teeth, teeth with decay and wisdom teeth.
Contact us today
to learn more about our services or to schedule your appointment!
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