Why Does My Tooth Need to Be Extracted If It Doesn’t Hurt?

The very thought of having a tooth extracted is enough to make some patients feel quite anxious; it’s never easy to part with one of your pearly whites! But what if the tooth in question doesn’t hurt—why would tooth extraction be necessary? You can rest assured that your dentist won’t recommend extraction unless the tooth is absolutely beyond saving; and sometimes, this can be the case even if you aren’t feeling any pain! Keep reading to learn more about why teeth sometimes require extraction, even if they don’t hurt.

Why Tooth Extraction Is Sometimes Necessary

In short, your natural teeth are the best available tools at your disposal for biting, chewing, speaking, and so on, meaning that if there’s ever any type of problem with one of them, your dentist is going to make a huge effort to keep it inside your mouth. However, there are some instances where the tooth in question is simply beyond saving, and extraction is the only way to ensure that your oral health isn’t jeopardized. It’s worth noting that some of these scenarios aren’t always obvious or painful, and some of them might even surprise you!

Common Reasons for Resorting to Tooth Extraction

Here are a few of the most common reasons for resorting to the procedure:

• Irreparable damage due to severe decay – When decay reaches the center of the tooth (the pulp), an infection can spawn. If root canal therapy cannot alleviate the issue, extraction may be the only way to prevent the infection from spreading.
• A viable solution to periodontal disease – Gum disease can affect your gums and teeth alike and can even spawn other serious health problems if left untreated. It notably has the potential to cause teeth to loosen, and extraction might sometimes be a possible option.
• A tooth’s become impacted – When a tooth’s blocked from coming out, it’s impacted; this often happens with wisdom teeth. Extraction usually helps to prevent these teeth from causing damage to other teeth, as well as lowering the risk of potential infection.
• To eliminate overcrowding – Sometimes extraction can be used to eliminate overcrowding inside the mouth, and it’s sometimes recommended prior to orthodontic treatment if there’s no room for the teeth to be properly realigned.
• Necessary after an accident – It’s impossible to predict accidents or physical trauma that might affect your oral health. While crowns, bridges, and other means can be used to treat damaged teeth, in some extreme cases, extraction might be required.

Even though some of these scenarios aren’t necessarily painful, they’re still accompanied by some pretty serious consequences if left unaddressed. Fortunately, tooth extraction can often be used to prevent these problems from worsening and causing a chain reaction that harms your smile!

About the Practice

The team at Infinite Smiles Dentistry serves the dental needs of the Owasso, OK area under the leadership of Dr. Mark Gaches. Dr. Gaches received his dental doctorate from the University of Southern California and is a proud Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, one of the most prestigious of all professional dental organizations. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit, feel free to contact Dr. Gaches through his practice’s website or by phone for assistance: (918) 928-2383.