Common tooth concerns, like tooth decay or fractures and breaks, are easily treatable with the right restorative dental treatment. For instance, a custom tooth filling or dental crown can help your tooth regain its structural integrity and restore its ability to function properly after its structure has been damaged. However, there may be some situations that can affect your tooth severely enough to make restoring it impossible. In such cases, the best solution for restoring and preserving the rest of your smile may be to extract the tooth and replace it with a custom-made restoration.

When tooth extraction might be a good idea

Your dentist won’t typically recommend tooth extraction lightly, for several different reasons. While it may seem simpler to remove a compromised tooth than to restore it, it’s more beneficial to your oral health to preserve your healthy, natural tooth structure whenever possible. Conditions that may require tooth extraction are usually severe and involves extensive damage to the tooth’s natural crown and/or root structures, or the tissues and dental ridge that support them. If your dentist recommends extracting a tooth, it means that it’s already too compromised to save.

Why replacing the tooth matters just as much

When tooth extraction becomes necessary, the point of the procedure is to remove the tooth so that it can’t pose a bigger threat to the rest of your oral health. If the tooth can’t function properly, it can negatively impact your bite’s balance. The discomfort may also be severe, depending on the tooth’s specific concern. However, extracting a tooth also means losing all of the tooth’s natural structure, which can lead to different, but also negative, consequences for your oral health in the long run. Fortunately, you may be able to avoid these consequences by replacing the tooth as soon as possible after it’s been extracted.

How to avoid tooth extraction and replacement

Though your dentist only recommends extracting and replacing a tooth in severe situations, that doesn’t necessarily make deciding to extract your tooth any easier. The best way to avoid the need for tooth extraction is to be diligent in your dental hygiene and preventive dental care routines to prevent chronic oral health concerns from developing. If you exhibit any concerns, such as tooth decay, gum disease, damage to one or more teeth, or more, then it’s important to address the problems as soon as possible to reduce the risks of it progressing any further.

Learn more about extracting and replacing your tooth

When a tooth becomes too compromised to save it with restorative treatment, extracting and replacing it could be the best option for preserving your long-term oral health. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600.