It is essential to have healthy teeth to speak properly and chew food. It is not uncommon for oral surgeons and dentists to see patients who struggle to care for their teeth appropriately or with damaged teeth as a result of facial trauma. Sometimes a crown, root canal, or filling can be utilized to restore the tooth to its original function, but if the damage to the tooth is too severe, the patient may be referred to an oral surgeon to have the tooth or teeth removed from the mouth, known as a dental extraction. The oral surgery team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery works hard to examine every possibility of restoring a natural tooth before extracting it. If a dental extraction is necessary, we will provide the best options for tooth replacement.
The following conditions can contribute to the need to have a dental extraction (tooth or multiple teeth removed):
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss and affects both the tissues around the tooth and the bones beneath the gums, causing tooth loosening and the need for a dental extraction.
Dental Crowding
In some cases, the teeth become too crowded and must be extracted for the mouth to have the proper room for oral function. This can occur when the jaw bone is too small to accommodate all of the teeth. In some situations, an extra tooth or teeth result in significant crowding. Crowding may also occur if adult teeth are beginning to grow in before their corresponding baby teeth have fallen out.
Dental Decay
In addition to the common side effects of periodontal disease, advanced dental decay is a major cause of tooth loss. If dental decay (cavity) is not treated, the decay can invade the nerves and blood supply of the teeth resulting in significant pain and a high possibility of infection. These infections can potentially be life threatening. In most situations, treatment involves the extraction of the infected teeth, antibiotic therapy, and at times, surgical procedures to drain infections.
How do I know if I need a tooth removed?
At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, we will perform a thorough oral examination and complete an X-ray evaluation of the tooth or teeth that are at risk. To subdue pain and to decrease anxiety, Dr. Alex Balaci offers a wide variety of anesthetic and sedative options, ranging from a local anesthetic to general anesthesia. Dr. Balaci will take a variety of factors into consideration when determining the best method for tooth removal. Your age, medical history, the difficulty of the procedure, the presence of gum disease, the tooth’s relationship to other teeth and structures in the mouth, and your personal preferences will all be considered. He will also provide you with options for tooth replacement, such as dental implants, which can often be placed at the same time that the tooth is extracted.
If you think you may be in need of a tooth extraction, we encourage you to contact our office in Lebanon, PA. Our friendly front desk staff is happy to help you schedule an initial consultation to meet with Dr. Balaci. It is our goal to restore your oral health and provide you with the best and most natural option for replacing missing teeth.
Where can I get a tooth/teeth removed near Lebanon?
Dr. Alex Balaci and the highly skilled team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, serve a wide region and provide the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures to correct functional and aesthetic problems, including the extraction of teeth.
