12606 A Lake Ridge Drive

Woodbridge, VA 22192

(703) 491-2131

Why Getting a Tooth Extracted is Often the Best Thing For Your Smile

Why Getting a Tooth Extracted is Often the Best Thing For Your Smile

Find out when your Woodbridge dentist might recommend getting a tooth extraction.

While we don’t often like thinking about it, there may come a time in which we have to consider getting a permanent tooth extracted. As a child, we couldn’t wait for our teeth to fall out so we could get monetary gifts from the tooth fairy. But now that we’re grown up, losing a tooth doesn’t come with the same whimsical benefits that it once did. However, there are times in which a tooth extraction is necessary to preserve the health of your smile. Find out when your Woodbridge dentist might recommend getting a tooth extraction.

Overcrowding: Sometimes your Woodbridge dentist decides it’s necessary to pull a tooth in order to prepare your mouth for wearing braces. The purpose of braces is to shift teeth into better alignment; however, if you are dealing with too many teeth for your mouth, getting the proper alignment might not be possible unless we pull a tooth. Also, if a tooth isn’t able to fully erupt through the gums—as is often the case with wisdom teeth—we may also need to pull the wisdom tooth to prevent further issues.

Tooth infection: If you experience decay that spreads to the inner structure of the tooth, known as the pulp, this can cause an infection within the tooth. While a root canal is often the best option, if the infection has caused enough damage or it is severe enough a root canal might not be enough. In order to prevent the infection from spreading even further we will need to extract the tooth.

Gum disease: Severe forms of gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, which leads to bone loss and loosening of teeth. If the tooth is loose enough, the best option may be to pull it.

If you are experiencing any of these problems then you may need to seriously consider how a tooth extraction could actually improve your oral health. Talk to your Woodbridge dentist, Dr. Charles L. Sours, Jr. today to find out more.