At Heritage Dentistry, preserving your natural teeth whenever possible is always a priority. However, there are certain situations in which removing a tooth may be the most appropriate way to protect your oral health. Wisdom teeth may also require extraction when they are impacted, causing problems, or likely to contribute to complications affecting the surrounding teeth and tissues.

When a tooth cannot be successfully restored or keeping it could negatively affect your oral health, our Greenville dentist may recommend an extraction as part of your treatment plan.

A tooth extraction may be necessary under the following circumstances:

• Infection: When a tooth is cracked or has a serious cavity, the connective tissue inside that tooth (the pulp) is at an increased risk of being infected. Once the pulp becomes damaged or infected, a person will begin to experience significant pain. If the infection is not treated soon enough, the tooth will need to be extracted to prevent the infection from reaching your jawbone and to alleviate pain.
• Trauma: A tooth that experiences significant trauma can develop cracks or fractures. Oftentimes these can be covered with fillings or dental crowns to prevent the spread of decay, however when the trauma is significant and not able to be addressed with a filling or a crown, a tooth extraction may be necessary to relieve pain and prevent surrounding teeth from being negatively impacted.
• Gum Disease: Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Gum disease develops when an excessive amount of plaque or tartar builds up around your gum line, which causes your gums to recede and creates pockets that deepen, allowing for more bacteria to develop and increasing your risk of infection. If left untreated, your gums will continue to recede to the point where your teeth loosen, at which point a tooth extraction may be necessary to alleviate pain and restore your oral health.