Avoiding Extractions: How to Properly Care For Your Teeth

You know the story. It’s been repeated by every parent, health teacher and dentist you’ve ever had: If you take good care of your teeth, they’ll last you a lifetime. Right?

Well, yes. It’s true. But sometimes even the best plans go astray, and we need to have a cavity filled, or a course of root canal therapy. The most damaged teeth need extractions.

Extractions occur when there’s no other way to save the tooth. Situations that call for extractions might include:

• Broken or cracked teeth for which repair is too difficult or impossible.
• Teeth with very extensive decay.
• Teeth that are unsuitable candidates for root canal therapy.
• Teeth whose supporting structure has been damaged by advanced periodontal disease.
• Poorly positioned or nonfunctioning teeth.

Of course, some of these candidates for extractions can’t really be helped; a dentist can’t recommend that his or her patients not have malpositioned teeth, or not get into any serious accidents that might damage the teeth. But extractions resulting from extensive decay or periodontal disease are entirely preventable:

• Avoiding Extractions, Rule #1: Brush every day, at least twice. Brushing isn’t something you can skip. It removes food from between your teeth and prevents tooth decay. You’ll recall that extensive tooth decay can result in extractions.
• Avoiding Extractions, Rule #2: Floss, floss, floss. Flossing not only removes bits of food from between teeth, it cleans gums as well. This prevents periodontal disease from weakening the support structure that keeps teeth in place.
• Avoiding Extractions, Rule #3: Don’t wait until the last minute. If you have a toothache, go to the dentist as soon as you can. Cavities, if left unchecked, can completely ruin teeth, making them good candidates for extraction.
• Avoiding Extractions, Rule #4: Get your teeth cleaned regularly. Dentists can help you out immeasurably here. They have special tools for cleaning out the places your toothbrush can’t reach.

The dentists at Comprehensive Family Dentistry have been giving needed extractions to patients in Newtown, Langhorne, Yardley, Philadelphia and the greater Bucks County area for years. Call today for an appointment.