When your tooth is infected or diseased, it may seem like pulling it is the easy choice, especially if you’re in pain. But not so fast! Having that tooth pulled may be the easy choice, but it may not be the best one. There are benefits to saving your natural teeth but in some cases, pulling them is the best option. When it comes to making a decision about whether to pull or save a tooth, be sure you know all the facts!
Benefits of Saving Your Tooth
If you’re experiencing pain, your teeth feel loose, or you have a rotten tooth, you may wonder: can I save my teeth? Or is it too late? The good news is that there are several ways to save your teeth and several benefits, as follows:
- Natural teeth are stronger. While technology and materials are better than ever, natural teeth are the hardest part of the body and enamel is the strongest substance in your body, even harder than bone.
- Avoid shifting of teeth. When a tooth is pulled, it creates a gap in your smile, allowing the surrounding teeth to shift. This shifting takes time and can eventually cause problems with chewing and bite alignment.
- Maintain your youthful appearance. When teeth are pulled, the roots that support the jaw are pulled as well. When there is a gap in the bone, the surrounding bone will collapse in often making people appear older than they are.
- No loss of confidence. If the tooth to be pulled is visible when you smile, the resulting gap can have a negative impact on your self-confidence. Sometimes, people lose their joyful smile because they are embarrassed about their teeth, and this is the last thing we’d want to see happen!
How to Save a Tooth
There are many compelling reasons to hang on to your natural teeth for as long as you can. However, decay and infection can make that a challenge and force you to decide to pull your tooth or save it. A root canal, a procedure where the inside of a tooth is cleaned and disinfected to remove the inflamed or infected interior pulp, is one way to save a tooth. Once the interior of the tooth is clean, the natural tooth is filled with a substance for strength and protected or restored with a crown, making it function again like any other tooth.
If a Tooth is Extracted, You Can Save Your Smile with Dental Implants!
While it is often preferable to save a tooth, there are times when extraction is a better option. When a tooth is cracked, especially if it is cracked below the gum line, or in several places, an extraction may be required. If the tooth is too weak to be restored, it may also be best to have it pulled.
If you do have a tooth extracted, dental implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing. People with dental implants are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh, and enjoy life. Click here for more details about dental implants and to see if you are a candidate.
Contact Impact Dental for All of Your Dental Needs
At Impact Dental, we provide a full range of dental services and take care of most of your dental needs in-house, including dental implants. We have sedation certified dentist, so sleep dentistry is always an option. We are dedicated to provide excellent service, quality care, and patient convenience. Click here to learn more and to set up an appointment.
