Certainly, no one wants to have a tooth “pulled”. Whenever possible, Columbus, GA dentist Dr. Albert Caves will take measures to preserve the natural tooth. Tooth extractions are just one of the general dentistry services we offer to the public in Columbus.
In some cases, though, a tooth is so badly damaged or has significant decay and must be removed. In these cases, Dr. Caves will remove the damaged tooth and offer replacement options such as a dental bridge or an implant to restore lost function and aesthetics.
Wisdom Teeth Extractions
A common type of tooth extraction is the removal of wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth are your third molars which usually appear in the late teens or early twenties. Most of the time, the third molars lack adequate space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction.
When any tooth lacks the space to come through or simply develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise. Primarily, damage to adjacent teeth and crowding occur, which can cause problems with alignment.
In certain cases, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.
To potentially stave off this result, an extraction of one, several, or all of the wisdom teeth may be advised. If that is the case, we have the equipment and training needed to perform such extractions with an absolute minimum of discomfort.
If you have concerns or questions regarding tooth extractions, contact our Columbus, Georgia office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Caves.