CREATING A BEAUTIFUL SMILE through orthodontic treatment often requires that certain teeth be extracted. But why? The short answer is that you need room in your mouth for your teeth to move. However, there can be a lot more to it than just that.

We are sharing the following information to help you better understand why this is done. We have gathered all of the reasons why you might need teeth extracted and everything else you need to know. If you have questions about why your tooth needs to be removed, feel free to contact us.

Let us get started! Here is why you might need to have one of your teeth extracted.

When Might An Extraction Be Necessary?

1. If your teeth are too crowded it can be hard to straighten your smile using braces. Removing certain teeth can make room for the other teeth to move into better positions. The end result gives you perfectly spaced and aligned teeth- no one else will be able to tell that a tooth was removed.

2. If you have an under or overbite, you might need to have teeth removed. An extraction can help fix an over or underbite, making it easier to chew food and talk. Removing teeth can be one step in the process of aligning a patient’s upper and lower jaw—and it is way less intrusive than jaw surgery.

3. Extraction can also help with protruding lips. If a patient’s upper teeth stick out, extracting teeth on the sides can help them move backward through orthodontic treatment and can improve the appearance of the lip.

4. Tooth decay can also be a cause for extraction. When one of your teeth starts decaying, it can lead to other problems, such as infections. Oral infections can become very serious, so your oral health care providers might choose to have the decaying tooth removed.

5. On that note, periodontal disease might be another cause for extraction. This is an infection of the gums or ligaments surrounding the teeth. In some cases, the best cure is to remove the tooth causing the problems. This allows your gums to heal and better fight the infection.

6. It can help an impacted tooth. This is when a tooth is unable to erupt properly due to teeth being in its way. This happens often with wisdom teeth and removing the impacted teeth lower the risk of infections. Plus, the extraction of an impacted tooth prevents future overcrowding.

7. After an accident, teeth might be damaged. The final main reason why you might need teeth removed is that they are too damaged to be treated in other ways. Your dentist will always try to save the tooth first, but sometimes they are too cracked to be repaired. This might be the case if you ever, unfortunately, found yourself in a severe car accident.

Overall, extraction is a very important part of the orthodontic process. If your teeth are too crowded, they can cause a lot of problems. This could be tooth decay from you not being able to reach all of your teeth when you brush them.

Braces for kids might also require a tooth to be removed, although it is less likely than with an adult. If this is the case, our orthodontist in Roebling NJ would be happy to help. Our team is full of caring individuals who are experts at working with kids of all ages.

Why A Patient’s Age Matters

Extractions are less common for young patients because children are still growing. Because of this, it is hard to gauge the impact of teeth removal on their current appearance. Their continuing growth also provides alternative ways to shape their smile.

Because of this, you are going to want to have a pediatric orthodontist take a look at a young child’s teeth. They can determine if they need teeth extracted, or need other treatment such as palatal expanders.

Plus, younger patients have yet to grow their adult teeth. Were a baby tooth to be removed, an adult one will later erupt in that place- which is bad if the orthodontic treatment had moved a new tooth into that area. It would be pushed out of the way by the newly erupting tooth.

Always remember that children are always growing and changing- this includes their mouth and teeth. In order for them to have good oral health, you will want to be sure that they are attending dentist appointments at a young age. It is easier to make some corrections while people are young.

For example, palatial expanders are more common in children- this is because that it is when they are the most effective. Serious issues where this treatment is needed are better corrected early on, as they become worse with time.

Who Removes The Teeth?

Although there are other oral health professionals with training in extraction, it is usually done by an oral surgeon. They will numb the area of your tooth that needs to be extracted with an anesthetic, usually including the jawbone and surrounding gums.

The procedure is simple and usually takes an average of 20 to 40 minutes to complete. That time frame includes everything- from the initial anesthesia to the extraction and post-operation time.

You can call us to learn more about how we handle extractions, we would be very happy to answer your questions about the procedure! Being informed can help you feel more confident on the day of your procedure. This is what you can expect to happen that day:

During And After The Procedure

The extraction of bicuspids and other teeth (not including wisdom teeth) is relatively simple. With the help of anesthetics and medication, the pain is minimal during and after. Depending on your situation, you might be prescribed pain relief medication to help you get through the healing process.

If you are not, you can always easily find a bottle of over the counter pain medicine at a local drug store. Only use it if you need to, as sometimes people are lucky enough to not have any pain while they heal.

Finally, the procedure can be as quick as 20 minutes! Once you are back at home, just make sure to eat soft foods and avoid using a straw. We understand that you might be nervous before you come in, but the procedure really does go by fast. Knowing that it will end quickly can help calm your nerves.

Conclusion

In short, if your dentist tells you that you need a tooth extracted, those are likely going to be one of the reasons why. Having extra space in your mouth makes orthodontic treatment go smoother, so be sure to have any needed teeth extracted as soon as you are able to.

Damaged or decaying teeth can also be one of the main reasons you need teeth extracted. Sometimes, it is more beneficial to remove the tooth so that it stops causing you problems. Keep in mind that your oral care team will always do their best to save your teeth, there are just some instances where that can not be done.

We hope this information was helpful. If you have any additional questions about extractions or our orthodontic treatments, please contact us. We would love to answer your questions and make the upcoming procedure go as smoothly as possible for you.