With modern dental techniques, most dental conditions can be successfully addressed and treated. Ultimately, your dentist would like to preserve as many of your natural teeth as possible with the help of corrective or restorative dentistry.
There are instances, however, when a dental condition severely compromises the prognosis for your tooth. In other words, there are times when the chances of preserving a damaged tooth are particularly unfavorable. A common example would be a fractured tooth.
Whether your tooth has been fractured as the result of tooth decay, bruxism, or a traumatic injury, you should be well informed about your options following tooth extraction.
When a tooth is fractured or broken, even advanced restorative efforts are ineffective, and the most ideal treatment is generally tooth extraction. A fractured tooth can often extend far below the gumline, making it difficult to restore with a filling or a crown. Often times, after a traumatic injury, even a microscopic fracture in the root portion of the tooth can be impossible to repair. The ligaments and bone that surround the tooth root will be unable to adapt and heal in the area of the fracture.
Although choosing tooth extraction may seem like an unpleasant alternative, you should know that the choice may actually be best for your health. By removing a troublesome tooth and avoiding costly and uncertain restorative procedures, you’ll have the opportunity to select a more predictable solution such as a dental implant.
Sometimes, within the same visit, your oral surgeon can both remove a fractured tooth and begin the first phase of the dental implant procedure. A titanium artificial tooth root can be placed in the location of the extracted tooth and fitted with a dental crown. If you plan to begin your implant procedure in the future, the extraction site can be prepared as soon as the natural tooth is removed. This often includes the placement of additional bone structure in the tooth socket and the preservation of the natural bone surrounding the socket.
Whether your tooth has been fractured as the result of tooth decay, bruxism, or a traumatic injury, you should be well informed about your options following tooth extraction. To discuss your options in more detail, call our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery, serving the Dallas TX area, to schedule your appointment today.
