Just as you should be brushing and flossing your teeth every day, you should also be monitoring your smile. By paying attention to any changes in your teeth, you can catch problems early on and schedule an appointment with our Shelton, CT, general dentists, Dr. Michael Caserta and Dr. Adrian Basu, for care.

While most of the time our dental team can treat problems without resorting to pulling a tooth, there are certain signs that may tell us that you may actually benefit in the long term from a tooth extraction. Here are some of those situations:

Damaged Tooth

While not all damaged teeth are beyond repair, if a tooth has been severely fractured or broken either below the gumline or to the point that there is barely any strong tooth structure left, then the best option may be to remove the tooth altogether and replace it.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

This is one of the most common reasons for a tooth extraction. In fact, most teens or young adults who have wisdom teeth will need to have them removed, for they generally isn’t enough room for the new teeth to erupt.

As a result, they can become impacted, meaning that these molars only partially erupt through the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection, gum disease, pain, and damage to neighboring teeth if not removed.

Widespread or Severe Infection

If there is an infection within the tooth, then our Shelton, CT, general dentists will need to treat it with a root canal. However, if the problem isn’t treated right away, the damage can become so serious that the tooth must be removed. The same issues can occur in those with severe untreated gum disease.

What are the signs that a tooth should be extracted?

Many of the symptoms below do not necessarily mean that you will need to have a tooth extracted, however, it’s important that you see us if you experience any of these telltale signs:

• Severe toothache
• Pain that gets worse when chewing or biting down on the tooth
• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Swollen gums around a tooth
• Fever accompanied by other dental symptoms (a sign of infection)

Concerned? Give us a call

If you are living in Shelton, CT, and dealing with any of the symptoms above, it’s important that you turn to our office right away for a consultation. Call Dental Associates of Shelton today at (203) 924-4115 to schedule an immediate appointment.