According to the Canadian Dental Association, 72% of Canadians brush two or more times per day. Meanwhile, 28% floss at least five times a week. These are indicators of good oral hygiene. Yet, even with good dental care, you may still need tooth extraction in Edmonton. Why? We explain the top reasons dentists recommend tooth extraction below.
Tooth Decay
The first line of defence against tooth decay is a filling. When decay spreads and gets infected, your dentist may prescribe a root canal to save the tooth.Sometimes, the infection continues to spread despite these treatments. In that case, extracting the tooth may be the only option to restore your oral health.
Gum Disease
Gum disease affects your gums, not your teeth. However, this condition can have an indirect impact on teeth when left untreated. The gum tissue surrounding a tooth may become so damaged that you lose jawbone. The jawbone is essential for supporting your teeth. Without enough of it, teeth may come loose or fall out. A dentist can also extract the teeth before this happens.
Crowding
Tooth extraction isn't just needed due to poor oral hygiene. Sometimes, other issues like crowding are to blame. Crowding happens when your jaw doesn't have enough room for all your adult teeth to erupt properly. There are other solutions to this problem (more on this in a moment). However, if the crowding is too severe, the only solution is to remove one or more teeth to accommodate the others.
Impaction
By now, you may be wondering when you're going to see wisdom teeth on this list. Yet, not all wisdom teeth require extracting. It's only when wisdom teeth are impacted that a dentist will want to pull them out. Without extraction, the impacted tooth could develop a cyst or infection.
Trauma
Oral trauma is common after accidents, especially if they're sports-related. A blow to the mouth can shatter one or more teeth, creating a dental emergency. If the tooth gets damaged to the point where a filling or crown can't help, your dentist will want to extract it.
Alternatives to Tooth Extraction in Edmonton
Most dentists only extract a tooth when other treatments aren't enough to save it. However, it still helps to know the alternatives.
· Root Canals: This treatment may be suitable for moderate tooth decay and/or gum disease
· Braces or Aligners: These treatments may be suitable for crowding
· Apicoectomies: This treatment may be suitable for severe tooth decay and/or gum disease
· Crowns: This treatment may be suitable for trauma and mild tooth decay
Unfortunately, there are no alternatives to extraction for impacted teeth. That's why wisdom teeth are the most commonly extracted teeth in Canada.
Schedule an Appointment With a Tooth Extraction Dentist in Edmonton
Tooth decay, gum disease, crowding, impaction, and trauma are the top reasons to get a tooth extracted. Your dentist will want to try all the alternatives before using this as a last resort. Need a tooth extraction in Edmonton? Westmount Dental Centre is open seven days a week for your dental health needs. Book your appointment at Westmount in Edmonton today!