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In some cases, the severity of your oral health concerns can be more complex than you realize. For example, you might expect that a decaying or damaged tooth can be saved even if you wait a while to address it. However, the state of the tooth and your surrounding oral tissues could be more compromised than you realize, and by the time you seek treatment, the only viable solution may be to extract the tooth structure that remains. However, depending on the tooth being extracted, its removal may only part of the overall process required to address your concern and fully restore your smile’s health, appearance, and function.

The underlying need for extracting the tooth

The need for tooth extraction can vary widely for everyone. For example, a tooth might be so severely damaged that it’s remaining healthy structure can’t support a restoration. Or, it may be so extremely decayed that there isn’t enough healthy tooth structure remaining to save. In many cases, a tooth needs to be extracted because it doesn’t have enough support. The jawbone structure and periodontal tissues may be significantly compromised due to severe gum disease, which is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. The cause of your tooth extraction is important, and if it involves more than just your tooth structure, then restoring your smile may require additional treatment after the tooth is extracted.

What happens after the tooth is extracted?

If your tooth needs extraction because of problems that affect only its tooth structure (such as damage or decay), then you may not need additional treatment to remove the threat to your smile. However, this is where tooth extraction can become more complex than many patients realize. After extracting the tooth, the loss of the tooth’s root and crown can have different notable effects on your oral health. These can include changes in your bite’s balance and in the amount of pressure your remaining teeth are exposed to, shifting tooth alignment, and increased risks of several other severe oral health complications.

How to fully restore your smile by replacing the tooth

Because tooth loss can have several significant impacts on your oral health, many people who require tooth extraction can benefit most from replacing the tooth as soon as possible. A custom-designed, lifelike tooth replacement can restore the functions of the extracted tooth to help prevent the loss from affecting your remaining healthy teeth. It can also restore your bite’s overall function, your smile’s healthy appearance, and much more, allowing you to enjoy a fully restored smile after having to extract a tooth.

Learn if your smile needs tooth extraction, or more

When tooth extraction is recommended, it’s typically necessary to remove a troublesome tooth. However, fully restoring your smile might also require more than just extracting the tooth. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA, today at (319) 364-7108.