When Does a Tooth Need to Be Removed?
By Mounir Iskandar | Published on June 16, 2010 | 0 Comments
Any time a tooth cannot be saved, it needs to be removed, according to Dr. Mounir Iskandar of Radiance Dentistry, located in Irving, Texas. Patients need a dentist to tell them whether or not a tooth can be saved, which is why Dr. Iskandar recommends to his patients that they come in as quickly as possible if they suspect that something is going on with one or more of their teeth that gives them reason for concern.
Dr. Iskandar says that the most common reason that a dentist would be unable to save a tooth is if there was a lot of bone loss in the area and there was not enough support for the tooth to be able to functionally stay in the mouth. “If the tooth seems very mobile and loose, then we probably will not be able to save it,” he says.
Another reason why a dentist in Irving would not be able to save a tooth is if there was severe tooth structural loss. If a dentist cannot do a root canal or put a crown on the tooth, then there is no reason to save it, he explains. Additionally, if the problem with the tooth goes all the way down to the root, then there is little chance that the dentist will be able to save it.
If root factor has set in, then there is a good chance that the dentist will end up extracting the tooth. Root factor, Dr. Iskandar explains, is when the root of the tooth itself has been fractured. If that has occurred, then there is no way to save the tooth and it must be taken out as soon as possible.
Teeth sometimes need to be extracted in order to continue with an important dental treatment plan—such as when someone is having a bridge or dentures put in. Dr. Iskandar says that having strong teeth in and around the area where a bridge is being inserted is important because the teeth that are abutting the bridge will take the brunt of the force when a bridge or a denture is put in.
If a tooth cannot support the bridge or the denture treatment, then Dr. Iskandar says that is usually when a dentist will recommend extracting the weak tooth and taking it out completely. With that tooth out of the way, the dental bridge will instead be attached to the next tooth over, which will hopefully be stronger than the one that was just extracted.
Oftentimes, patients have anxiety about having a tooth extracted, and the process itself can make many people nervous. But the alternative—attaching a bridge to a weak tooth—is much worse, according to Dr. Iskandar. Putting in a bridge and increasing the pull on a tooth that is not completely strong can jeopardize the entire dental treatment and make it more likely that the patient will need follow-up treatments in the future.
Once the tooth has been extracted—for whatever reason—patients have a handful of options to choose from when it comes to having it replaced. Dr. Iskandar says that in most cases, a person whose tooth was extracted will have a dental implant put in. Other times, a bridge might be the better option, depending on the specifics of the individual and the case. Dentures are another choice, although Dr. Iskandar says those are generally reserved for patients with slightly different needs, rather than someone who just lost one tooth.
If there is just one tooth missing, then Dr. Iskandar says he would recommend putting in a dental implant or a bridge. If several teeth were lost, which usually results from some type of traumatic accident, then he says putting in a denture might be the better option. “Each case really is different,” he says.
At Radiance Dentistry, Dr. Iskandar says that 30% of his patients who have lost just one or two teeth will choose to go with dental implants to fix the problem. Meanwhile, 70% of patients with one or two missing teeth will go with bridges. The main reason for the choice between implants and bridges has to do with cost—bridges are the much cheaper option between the two. On top of that, bridges are typically covered by most dental insurance policies, whereas dental implants are not.
If you are concerned that one or more of your teeth may need to be removed, then Dr. Iskandar recommends contacting a dentist in your local area immediately and making an appointment to check out what’s going on.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.