Preservation Vs. Tooth Extraction

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Preservation vs. Tooth Extraction (The Woodlands)
One of the most common questions for dentists in
Conroe and The Woodlands to hear is Can I just
get all of my teeth pulled and replaced with
dentures or implants? People who have been
plagued by dental problems all their adult life
often become frustrated when it comes to getting
their smile back on track. All too often it seems
like the best and most logical response is to
have their teeth extracted and then replace them
with something else. Like having a blank slate to
start all over. Although tooth extractions in
The Woodlands are frequently recommended for
certain circumstances, removing or pulling a
tooth isnt always considered the standard of
care. In the best-case scenario, experts like
Dr. Saunders want to help you preserve your
natural tooth. Although treatments like dental
implants are the next best thing to having a
natural smile, the recommended protocol is to
retain natural teeth when at all possible. When
Should I Have a Tooth Pulled?
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Sometimes preserving anatomical teeth is not
ideal. For instance, you might have extremely
aggressive periodontal disease in that location,
with excessive tooth mobility due to no
structural support. If augmentation and soft
tissue therapy are not appropriate, a
therapeutic tooth extraction may be best to halt
the spread of disease. Or perhaps you have a
tooth with extensive structural damage. Maybe
there is advanced decay extending into the root
of the tooth, leaving little tooth structure left
to restore or nothing to attach a crown onto. If
only a portion of the tooth remains, its
typically preferred to have it extracted and then
replaced with something else. And then there are
emergency circumstances, where pain is involved.
Even though the best thing to do dentally
would be to preserve a tooth, there may be a
traumatic injury or severe pain involved. The
priority of the patient in those situations is
simply to get out of pain as quickly as
possible. Given the circumstances, your dentist
may recommend extracting the tooth to stabilize
the situation and severity of the pain. This
scenario is often determined on a case-by-case
basis, given the preferences of the patient
and recommendations of the personal
dentist. Promptly Replacing Missing
Teeth Removing a natural tooth or losing one to
disease/trauma creates space in your smile. This
extra room can lead to lack of support for
neighboring teeth, resulting in shifting and
misaligned biting relationships (among other
problems.) Promptly replacing your missing tooth
with a permanent restoration will help to restore
function as well as aesthetics. The best way to
replace missing teeth is with dental implants in
Conroe. These restorations provide the most
lifelike tooth function and facial support of
any modern-day rehabilitative treatment. Unlike
conventional removable dentures, implants and
implant-supported prosthetics offer better
performance and improved comfort. If youre
debating having your teeth extracted and replaced
with dentures or implants, its best to speak to
an experienced implant specialist like Dr.
Saunders. Call our office in The Woodlands today
for an expert opinion.