When you're young, losing a tooth is an exciting opportunity to get a few extra bucks from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, the story is different once you're older: losing an adult tooth can be worrying!

Though most dentists will do everything they can to preserve your natural teeth, there are some cases where getting a tooth extraction in Macedonia, OH, is the best move for your dental health. Extractions can be great procedures to relieve pain, remove infections and damage, address overcrowding, and more.

Here at Q & A Dental Care, our dental specialists will recommend removing your tooth in a few specific cases. Let's take a look at the most common reasons why an extraction might help.

You Have Severe Overcrowding

For most people, crowded teeth are easy to treat. Solutions like braces, Invisalign, and even retainers may be enough to help teeth achieve normal spacing.

However, severe overcrowding may require a dentist to extract one of your teeth. This is more common if you have a small jaw or when you have a rare fourth molar (or one more wisdom tooth than the average). These types of severe crowding make straightening procedures more difficult, as there is less room available in the mouth.

If you're experiencing severe overcrowding, extracting a tooth will create more room in your mouth. Not only does this make it easier to straighten your teeth, but it also makes brushing and flossing easier. This, in turn, may reduce your risk of cavities and abscesses.

Your Tooth Is Impacted

For younger patients, the tooth extraction process can help with impacted teeth.

When teeth first "erupt," or push out of the gums, you may experience mild pain. If the tooth is unable to erupt, however, this pain can become unbearable.

Teeth that don't erupt properly are "impacted" teeth. These teeth may only push out halfway, or they may not break the surface of the gums at all. Tooth impaction is more common with molars and wisdom teeth than with other teeth.

Teeth can get stuck in the gum tissue or jawbone for several reasons. Overcrowding, for example, can make it impossible for the tooth to find space to push free. In other cases, the tooth may come in at a twisted angle, causing it to put pressure on your other permanent teeth.

When a tooth is impacted, your dentist may be unable to correct and straighten it. Extraction is often the best bet in these cases, as it can relieve severe tooth pain and overcrowding.

There's a Major Infection in the Tooth or Gums

In our clinic, we treat infections as a matter of routine.

Gingivitis, for example, is a common infection of the gums that dental solutions can treat if it's caught early. Minor tooth infections are another example, as these are easy to address with antibiotics, fillings, and other simple treatments.

However, if an infection is left untreated, the pain and damage can become severe. When an infection does not respond to simple solutions and medications, an extraction may be necessary. In cases like these, you might have serious pain, notice red or swollen gums, and have difficulty chewing or speaking.

Tooth infections can travel from the tooth into the jawbone and other parts of the body. This can put your health at serious risk, which is why removing the tooth is often the best solution. For patients with compromised immune systems, extractions are highly recommended.

There Is Severe Physical Damage

After a fall or accident, your tooth may become chipped or fractured. In most cases, your dentist can treat minor cracks with special sealants, veneers, crowns, and other cosmetic fixes.

If the tooth fracture extends below the gum line, however, you may need to get your tooth pulled instead. These types of fractures can cause intense, stabbing pain as they probe into the sensitive pulp of the tooth and often impact the root as well. It is often hard to treat them with cosmetic solutions alone.

A Permanent Tooth Is Loose

Though we often associate loose and lost teeth with childhood, it's possible for adult teeth to loosen as well.

After trauma due to a fall or accident, your tooth may loosen. Gum disease, pregnancy, menopause, and other conditions can also cause teeth to loosen temporarily. In rare cases, tooth grinding can cause teeth to wear down and loosen over time.

In many cases, your dentist can save a loose tooth. Keep in mind that this is only true if you get treatment early! If you notice a toothache, discoloration, swelling, or bleeding, it's even more important to visit a specialist as fast as possible.

You're In Extreme Pain

You might notice a painful tooth for a huge spectrum of reasons. Anything, from a cavity to an impacted wisdom tooth, may be the culprit.

As we've stated above, a dentist can often save your tooth from most types of oral pain.

However, this isn't always the case. Severe, continuous pain in your tooth, gums, or jaw may be a sign that you're dealing with one or more of the issues above, even if you haven't realized it.

Impacted teeth and infections, for example, often cause intense pain, even if you haven't spotted other red flags. If you experience severe tooth pain after an accident or trauma, even if the tooth looks fine, it's always a sign that you should make an appointment with your dentist right away.

Contact Us for Your Tooth Extraction

No one should have to struggle with tooth pain or damage alone. If you think you may be suffering from any of the symptoms above, don't self-diagnose! Instead, visit an experienced dentist for help pinpointing the source of your pain.

If you think you may need a tooth extraction in Macedonia, OH, the team at Q & A Dental Care can help.

Though we'll always preserve a tooth when possible, we'll help you remove it when it's right for your oral health. There's no need to worry in our clinic: Dr. Montgomery is always careful to support anxious patients through this procedure. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.