Reasons for Pulling Teeth
Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a variety of reasons why you may need your tooth/teeth extracted. Common reasons involve badly damaged teeth, from trauma or decay, that cannot be repaired.
Other reasons include:
A crowded mouth. Sometimes dentists pull teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontia so as to properly align the teeth, which may not be possible if your teeth are too big for your mouth. Likewise, if a tooth cannot break through the gum (erupt) because there is not enough room in the mouth for it, our dentists may recommend pulling it.
Infection. If tooth decay or damage extends to the pulp — the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels — bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp, leading to infection. Often this can be corrected with a root canal, but if the infection is so severe that antibiotics or a root canal procedure does not cure it, extraction may be needed to prevent the spread of infection.
Risk of infection. If your immune system is compromised (for example, if you are receiving chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant), even the risk of infection in a particular tooth may be reason enough to pull the tooth.
Periodontal (gum) disease. If periodontal disease — an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth — have caused loosening of the teeth, it may be necessary to pull the tooth or teeth.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can lead to a variety of problems if there is no space for them to surface or erupt in the wrong position.
Your wisdom teeth may also be impacted, which means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums. They are difficult to clean, act as food traps and will lead to the following problems:
The gums overlying impacted wisdom teeth get infected, and become swollen. This is a painful condition called ‘pericoronitis’.
They cause decay on the second molar tooth in front.
Teeth in front become crowded.
They can develop into cysts causing damage to the neighbouring tooth.
Our dentists will do a thorough clinical examination for you to determine whether you require surgery to remove your wisdom tooth/ teeth.
A FREE X-ray will be taken to check the position of the wisdom tooth.
The surgery will be performed under local anaesthesia. Intravenous sedation administered by a qualified anaesthetist will be arranged, if required.
After the wisdom tooth has been removed, the area will be stitched together. Antibiotics and painkillers will be prescribed.
Ingrown Teeth
After your free dental checkup and X-Ray, our dental professionals will inform you if there are any supernumerary teeth or ingrown teeth that require surgical removal. Listed below are some common reasons why our dentists would recommend surgery.
difficulties chewing or eating
problems cleaning the teeth, which could lead to gum disease
overcrowding or crooked teeth
a delay in the eruption of permanent teeth
damage to unerupted permanent teeth
any discomfort