What Are the Signs That Say I Might Need to Get a Tooth Extraction?

On average, about half of American adults see their dentist the recommended two times a year. The other half vary from one a year to not visiting at all in several years. The problem with not visiting your dentist is that it lets small dental problems swell into major dental issues.

For example, almost every experiences some common tooth pain occasionally. It might mean a cavity or just mean you bit down on something wrong.

When you ignore dental problems, though, it can set you up for tooth extraction down the road. Not sure what signs indicate you need an extraction? Keep reading for some of the common signs.

Severe Tooth Pain

Severe tooth pain or pain in your jaw is often a sign of infection in the tooth or overcrowding. You should ask the dentist if it is salvageable. It’s possible that a root canal will do the job.

However, if there is extensive damage to the tooth, the dentist may well recommend you get the tooth pulled. Overcrowding and infection are common with wisdom teeth, which is why many dentists recommend wisdom tooth removal in early adulthood.

While it varies a bit from patient to patient, you can learn more here about the wisdom teeth healing timeline after extraction.

Tooth Damage

Teeth are surprisingly sturdy. After all, if well cared for, they can last for 70 years or more. That doesn’t make teeth indestructible.

Accidents or trauma can leave one or more of your teeth cracked or even broken. Sometimes, a good local dentist can repair the tooth with a crown. In more severe cases, a combo of a root canal and crown will get the job done.

For severely cracked or broken teeth, though, the typical treatment is an extraction. The good news is that dentists can use dental implants to restore your smile in most cases.

Impaction

Another potential problem that can lead to a tooth extraction is a condition known as impaction. With impaction, there simply isn’t enough room in your mouth for the last of your wisdom teeth to come in normally.

This can cause a host of problems, such as:

• Pain
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• Swelling

Even if the impacted teeth don’t trigger some or all of those problems, there is a good chance that the teeth will decay because of poor cleaning. That decay can lead to infections or even damage other teeth

Don’t Ignore the Signs

For most people, the first and primary sign that they need a tooth extraction is pain. In many cases, it’s severe pain that has escalated from what most people would consider normal or common tooth pain.

If you experience severe tooth pain, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. That pain and the cause of it won’t resolve themselves. Also, keep an eye out for other signs, like tooth damage, swelling, and bleeding gums.

Looking for some more dental or overall health tips? Check out our Health & Fitness section for more posts.