When Should a Broken Tooth Be Extracted?
By Paul Boger | Published on November 15, 2011 | 0 Comments
Many people erroneously believe that their broken teeth are going to have to be extracted, when in reality a general dentist can usually repair these teeth quite easily. According to Dr. Paul Boger of Market Street Dental, broken teeth rarely need to be extracted these days, thanks in large part to the innovative treatment options that dentists now have at their disposal.
In the majority of cases, Dr. Boger says that broken teeth can be saved by utilizing root canal therapy. Assuming a dentist in Warren, PA, is able to get to the broken tooth quickly enough, Dr. Boger says it is reasonable to assume that he or she can perform root canal therapy to stop an infection from spreading and eliminate any pain that the patient is in. Patients who have had root canal therapies performed on their broken teeth report that their mouths feel much better afterward and the pain is gone almost immediately.
The second part of this equation is the tooth reconstruction. Dr. Boger is a dentist in Warren, PA, who says that the broken tooth must be reconstructed after the root canal therapy has been performed. The standard of care in these cases is to perform root canal therapy and then rebuilt the affected tooth with a dental crown. A dental crown is a full coverage restoration that is made custom to fit over the patient’s broken tooth. When a dental crown is made correctly, it can make the broken tooth close to its original strength. Although crowns can be placed on any affected tooth in the mouth, Dr. Boger says they are generally used for repairing broken posterior teeth.
After describing all the various ways to repair a broken tooth, Dr. Boger goes on to say that there are some cases where a broken tooth simply cannot be saved. In those cases, the tooth must be extracted to prevent unnecessary pain and a potential infection that could spread throughout the body. Nonetheless, as a dentist in Warren, PA, Dr. Boger only extracts broken teeth when they are completely hopeless and there is no chance that a repair could be made successfully.
Tooth extractions are only done in cases where a patient is in severe pain, an infection is present, and a dentist in Warren, PA, has deemed that the tooth is not fixable. Thankfully, Dr. Boger says that the overwhelming majority of broken teeth are actually savable thanks to the treatment options that dentists have available to them today.
Warren, PA 16365
Phone: 814-726-1240
*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.