If you have been told you need a tooth extraction, you might be dreading the procedure. That is a completely understandable reaction, but you should rest assured that tooth extraction is easier than you would think and leads to better oral health overall. That being said, you might be wondering why you even need a tooth extraction in the first place. The following are the most common reasons people need their teeth extracted.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss because gums and its underlying bone are what allow teeth to remain stable and in place in your mouth. Diseased gums can cause teeth to loosen, which can be painful. That is why they will need to be removed before they can be replaced with other options such as dental implants.

Wisdom teeth growing in are the reason most people are familiar with when it comes to tooth extraction. It is done since most people do not have enough room in their mouth to accommodate wisdom teeth. If they are partially grown in or come through sideways, they can cause severe issues like cysts, infection and cavities. Wisdom teeth can also make it difficult to eat if they grow in a way that causes you to bite the side of your mouth as you chew. Dentists recommend getting your wisdom teeth extracted before they grow in because they are not worth the trouble they can cause.

Financial concerns might cause a patient to opt for tooth extraction over other options. While dentists will usually recommend whatever is necessary to save a tooth, such as a root canal, filling or crowns, a patient may not be able to afford those options. It is the patient’s decision at the end of the day, and if they do not want to save their natural tooth for financial or other reasons, then an extraction could be there next best option.

Severe cavities are so large that they can destroy most or all of a tooth, leaving nothing left to support a crown or filling. In these cases, a dentist’s only option might be tooth extraction and then replacing it with a bridge, implant or partial denture.

Large fractures are not uncommon in teeth, especially in the mouths of people who have a habit of grinding or clenching. Even simple chewing or regular wear and tear can cause fractures to occur. If they fractures become too large or run vertically, it becomes too difficult to save the tooth, so it has to be extracted.

Overcrowding is a common occurrence that can cause teeth to overlap one another and make a crooked smile. It can usually be fixed by extracting just one or two teeth to create more room. A dentist may recommend tooth extraction before a patient gets braces to make the treatment easier and work faster.

If you require a tooth extraction or a checkup in general, book an appointment with the experienced and knowledgeable dentists at Lumina Dental in Maple Ridge. Our team will make sure any orthodontic treatment you receive is done with the utmost care.