A Boise Dental Extraction Vs. Saving Your Tooth

If you have a damaged or infected tooth, it may seem like having it extracted is an easy choice, especially if you’re in pain. However, having a tooth removed may not be the best choice. In fact, many people in the Treasure Valley are unaware of all the benefits of saving your natural teeth. While the choice to extract a tooth or save it is ultimately yours to make, it’s important to make sure you know all the facts before making a decision.

The Benefits of Saving A Tooth

Want to know what the benefits of saving your natural tooth are? The Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group have the answers:

• Your natural teeth are stronger. Not only are your natural teeth stronger, but they also function better than artificial ones and are easy to care for.
• No shifting of teeth. When a tooth is extracted, it creates a gap in your mouth, allowing nearby teeth to shift. This can eventually lead to bigger, more expensive problems down the road.
• Maintain a youthful appearance. When a tooth is pulled, the roots that support your jaw bone are removed as well. This causes the surrounding bone to collapse, making people appear older than they really are.
• Higher self-confidence. When a tooth is pulled from a visible area of your mouth, the resulting gap can negatively impact your self-confidence. In fact, our Boise dentists have seen many patients who are embarrassed about their smile due to missing teeth.
• Less pain. When a tooth is extracted, many patients complain of pain, especially if they develop dry socket. By saving a natural tooth through a root canal procedure, the pain is addressed immediately when the infection is successfully eliminated.
• Less Boise dental visits. When a tooth is removed, your dentist may consider a crown, bridge, or implant to eliminate the problem of shifting teeth. This means more Boise dental visits, more expense, and sometimes more pain.
• Fewer costs.  While you may think that it’s cheaper to pull a tooth than fixing it, the truth is that replacing a tooth with a crown and bridge or implant costs much more money.

How Your Dentist Saves Your Tooth

There are a wide variety of reasons to save your natural tooth for as long as you can. How your dentist saves your tooth is usually through a root canal procedure where the inside of your tooth is cleaned to remove its infected pulp. Once this is done, your tooth is filled in for strength and protection before being restored with a crown to make it look and function like normal. Not only does a root canal save your natural tooth, but it also eliminates the pain and recovery time from an extraction.

When A Tooth Should Be Extracted

While it’s always best to save a tooth, there are circumstances when an extraction is necessary. If a tooth is cracked below the gumline or in several places, this is especially true. Take the time to talk with your dentist to see which option is best for you.

Summit Dental Group

Still not sure whether you can save a tooth or need it extracted? Contact the Boise dentists at  Summit Dental Group by filling out our online form or give us a call at (208) 314-2275 for an appointment. We will take the time to answer any questions you may have to make the best decision based on your individual needs.