What Comes After Tooth Extraction?

Maintaining your oral health involved cleaning your teeth and gums regularly, and visiting your dentist every six months for checkups. When you fall behind on your oral healthcare, your problems can start to add up. An untreated cavity may lead to an infected root canal. An untreated root canal infection may lead to tooth loss. If a tooth becomes a health risk for your other teeth, you may need to extract it. What is the tooth extraction process like, and what comes after tooth extraction? In today’s blog, we explore your options for replacing missing teeth.

Why Would a Tooth Need to Be Extracted?

Let’s start first with tooth extraction itself. Your dentist’s goal is to keep all of your teeth healthy and in-tact throughout your life. In some cases, however, a damaged tooth can pose a risk to the surrounding teeth In these cases, your dentist may recommend extraction. If your tooth needs root canal therapy, and the treatment fails, you may need to extract the tooth to avoid the spread of infection. If your tooth becomes broken to the extent that it cannot be repaired with a restoration, your dentist may recommend extraction. Finally, many patients have their wisdom teeth removed, because they can become impacted or grow in at an awkward angle that disrupts the integrity of their other teeth.

Your Dentist Can Replace Extracted Teeth

In the case of wisdom teeth, you may not need any additional treatment after your initial oral surgery. If your tooth loss is the result of infection or damage though, you’ll want to replace the extracted teeth. The integrity and strength of your bite relies on having a complete set of aligned teeth. A missing tooth can cause your remaining teeth to shift into the vacant space over time. This shift in your bite can lead to premature wear for your remaining teeth. For this reason, it’s recommended that you replace any missing teeth — whether you’ve lost them or had them extracted.

Dental Prosthetics Create Lifelike Replacements for Your Missing Teeth

Dental prosthetic options can accommodate many types of tooth loss. Dental implants are used to replace a single missing tooth. Their strong, stable root structure makes dental implants the most functionally similar to natural teeth. Dental bridges can be used to replace a single tooth, or a sequence of missing teeth. The bridge relies on having stable, healthy teeth on either end of your missing teeth. Finally, dentures can be used to replace an entire row of missing teeth, and partial dentures can replace a number of teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth.

Explore Treatment Options at The Dental Centre of Conroe

The prospect of tooth loss can be intimidating, but at The Dental Centre of Conroe, we prioritize patient comfort. Your dentist will walk you through your options for replacement teeth after extraction, and thoroughly explain the reasons for the recommended treatments. Schedule an appointment at The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by contacting our office at 936-441-4600.