Think Before Tooth Extraction

Saving natural teeth is mostly a far healthier alternative to extraction. Implants, while being an indispensable tool to replace missing teeth, do not feel or function quite like the natural teeth. To retain teeth for a lifetime, brushing, flossing and regular check-ups with the dentist are important.

Oft times, however, teeth suffer trauma or decay, or periodontal (gum) disease resulting in a loss of supporting bone, and you might wonder whether extraction is necessary or if the tooth can be saved. In most cases, the tooth can be saved with treatment. Here are some of the primary causes leading to tooth decay:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Foods high in sugar levels pose many health problems, and coupled with a lack of dental care, may cause tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection caused by acid-producing bacteria.

         

          

          

          

          

          

          

          

          

      2. Plaque formed around the tooth can harden over time and assume the role of tartar. Tartar can cause gingivitis, a gum condition causing them to bleed frequently and swell.
      3. Trauma caused to a tooth as a result of some injury or accident can cause tooth fracture. The extent of fracture decides if a tooth can be treated or not. Early diagnosis keeps the fracture from spreading and being untreatable.

In addition to merely harming the structure of teeth, these conditions can cause infection of the pulp tissue, or “nerve” of the tooth. Mostly, the solution adopted to battle aggravated pulp infection is Root Canal Therapy, but the leading procedure at Hassaan Dental Clinic is far healthier: Pulp Mummification. This treatment should be the first choice in case of pulp infection, for health and cosmetic reasons. It is also more painless compared to both RCT and tooth extraction.

Whenever possible, teeth should be saved and not extracted. Even if they are not visible, their absence will still negatively impact the quality of life, cause bone atrophying and result in an older appearance, in addition to posing problems while eating and ruining your smile. Getting a tooth pulled because it is easier or more cost-effective is a choice that must never be made if it can be saved.

Reasons for saving natural teeth:

1. 1. If a tooth is missing, neighbouring teeth may start to tilt towards the empty space, causing problems while chewing and cleaning, thus affecting the overall oral health. It also makes teeth appear crooked.
   2. Missing multiple teeth poses much difficulty in eating.
   3. Missing teeth affect speech.
   4. Facial structure alters as a result of tooth extraction.
   5. Teeth stimulate the bone in which they are embedded, and their removal results in bone atrophying whereby the bone loses its density and volume. This affects the gum tissue as well, posing greater problems in speech and eating.
   6. Bone atrophy also results in premature ageing and the face looks caved in and older.
       

       

       

       

   7. Removing teeth can cause problems in the jaw joint, leading to eating problems in addition to persistent headaches and dizziness.
   8. Teeth realign due to a space, and it may be such that opposing teeth (upper and lower) start to migrate outwards unless stopped by an opposing force, in a phenomenon called supra-eruption.

Tips for saving teeth:

1. In case of any symptoms of swelling or pain, a dentist should be consulted immediately. Delaying such visits only aggravates the situation and may cause for it to reach the stage where a tooth can only be pulled out, and not saved.
2. If your dentist advises tooth extraction, first inquire him of any alternative treatments to save it.

Saving teeth helps maintain your natural smile, and eat comfortably. With proper care, teeth can last a life time, insha Allah.