How a Tooth Extraction Can Preserve Your Oral Health

The fact that tooth extraction in La Grange, KY, can improve your long-term oral health may seem like an oxymoron. However, if the tooth is severely decayed or damaged, it can leave an extensive amount of bacteria in your mouth that can cause gum disease, cavities, and other common problems.

Extracting a Tooth is Always the Last Resort

Dr. Steven Byrne and Dr. Zachary Byrne always uses the most conservative treatment methods first to address oral health problems, such as a crown or filling. Unfortunately, that is not always enough to save the tooth. Besides severe tooth decay, the most typical reasons that your dentist recommends tooth extraction include:

• Advanced gum disease
• As part of orthodontic treatment when your teeth are too crowded
• Immune system weakness that puts you at risk for infection
• Impacted tooth
• Injuries caused by trauma to the mouth
• Tooth fracture

The symptoms associated with these dental health problems are not always obvious. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Byrne Family Dentistry right away if you have ongoing pain in one tooth, jaw pain, swelling around the tooth, or pain when chewing your food.

What to Expect When You Need a Tooth Extracted

If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above, Dr. Steven Byrne or Dr. Zachary Byrne will take several X-rays to determine the severity of the issue and the health of bones in your jaw.

You remain awake under local anesthesia when your dentist performs a simple extraction. Some patients require a surgical extraction due to the extent of the damage, which requires making an incision in your gum line around the tooth and possibly the removal of a small amount of bone.

We are happy to answer your additional questions about tooth extraction in La Grange, KY, during a personal consultation.