No, You Can't Put Off A Tooth Extraction

Nobody wants to hear bad news coming from a dentist, but it's always a possibility. If you've found out that one of your teeth is in bad shape and needs to be extracted, you may be worried. After all, having a tooth extracted doesn't sound like much fun. But if the dentist says this is your sole option, then it's something you can't put off. Doing so could mean risking your health. Here's why having that tooth pulled soon is a must.

Why It's a Necessity

When a dentist finds a tooth that's in bad shape, they'll do whatever is possible to save it before considering extracting it. In general, this usually means treating any underlying gum disease that could be impacting the tooth and removing any decaying portions either via drilling the tooth for a cavity or performing a root canal. Both of these methods can be helpful in restoring a tooth to its former glory. However, if these aren't options for you, that means that the tooth's damage, infection, or decay has progressed too far and the only remaining choice is to extract the tooth completely. Typically, this means that the root of the tooth is either severely infected, damaged, or has already died, and there's no way of restoring the tooth in any other way.

What Harm Could Come From Waiting

People often think of tooth decay as being a stagnant thing, but this isn't the case. While a tooth is made of bone, that bone is still living matter. This means that if it becomes severely decayed from plaque, tartar, and bacteria, or is infected following a serious injury, that infection and decay can continue to spread. In time, it'll take over the entire tooth, leading to the need for either a root canal or full extraction, depending on how far it's allowed to progress.

Unfortunately, the problems won't just stop there, and the tooth isn't going to fall out on its own and resolve the problem. While it's possible for severely decayed and damaged teeth to fall out, it's also possible for them to spread their decay and infection to their neighbors. Tooth infections can potentially infect the gums and even the jaw bone supporting all of your teeth. If this is allowed to happen, it can potentially trigger serious bone loss or a serious bodily infection called sepsis. Extracting the tooth now is the only way to stop this at the source, and the sooner you have the procedure done, the less likely you are to see major complications.

Talk to a dentist if you have further questions about tooth extraction.

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