Save A Tooth: 3 Clear-Cut Reasons A Tooth Should Be Saved Instead Of Extracted
Whenever feasible, most dentists will prefer to do what they can to save your natural teeth and avoid unnecessary extractions. There are many ways to save a damaged tooth. A cracked tooth may be able to be spiffed up with a bit of dental bonding. A broken tooth may require a crown. A severely decayed tooth may be able to be saved with a root canal and crown placement. Is it worth the trouble of these dental procedures? Absolutely, and here are three reasons why:
1. Preserve Your Natural Appearance.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Most people opt to save their teeth when possible in order to maintain their natural appearance and smile. Even a single missing tooth can dramatically impact the way your smile appears to others, which can drastically affect your confidence and self-esteem. It can affect the shape and overall appearance of your face due to the weakened jaw, making you look older. By saving your tooth, you will avoid gaps in your teeth and maintain a properly aligned smile.
2. Maintain Proper Chewing Habits.
You know that saying that you don't miss anything until it's gone? Well, that saying coincides well with missing teeth. Having all of your teeth help you maintain a natural structure for a natural bite, which impacts the way you chew food. When a tooth is removed, the alignment of the teeth and the bite of your teeth both change. This can make it difficult to chew food properly, depending on where the missing tooth is located. You may compensate for that lost tooth by chewing strangely, which can lead to issues with the jaw later. This, on top of the consequence of already-existing bone loss within your jaw, is not good.
3. Protect the Teeth That Remain.
If your smile is important to you, which it likely is, you want to preserve it and protect all of your teeth. By working to save your damaged tooth, you are essentially protecting the teeth surrounding it. When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, the mouth's overall structure can weaken. When this happens, it can result in more tooth loss as well as injury, which can get worse over time.
In some cases, your tooth just can't be saved. Whether it's one tooth or four teeth, that's okay, as there are still plenty of dental options available for you. From bridges to dental implants, your dentist can perform a full examination of your mouth, your oral history and your medical history and then speak with you regarding what options are available. If you decide to go the route of a dental implant, which is usually recommended following the extraction of a tooth, you will still be able to enjoy most of the benefits outlined above.
For more information, contact Merrimack Valley Periodontics or a similar location.
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