Our dentists at Moranbah Dental are committed to repairing and saving damaged teeth whenever possible, but sometimes removing and replacing a tooth is the only way to maintain your oral health.
If your tooth has been damaged by decay or an injury, call us on (07) 4941 7336 to book an appointment with our dentists. We'll examine the tooth and explain all the possible options, so you can make an informed decision.
Teeth are strong, but they're not invincible. While minor to moderate tooth damage may be repaired through bonding, a dental crown or a filling, more severe damage may be beyond repair, especially if not enough of the tooth's structure remains.
Teeth may need to be pulled if they're damaged following a dental injury or due to untreated oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease or an infection. Extraction may also be recommended to relieve teeth crowding or before starting orthodontic treatment.
Many young adults have problems with wisdom teeth getting stuck (impacted) in their gum or causing crowding or other problems when they come through. Wisdom tooth removal can be more complex than general extraction.
You may be less likely to need extractions when you take good care of your teeth and gums, wear a mouthguard during sports and have regular dental check-ups so your dentist can treat problems at an early stage, but accidents can still happen.
Our dentists will explain what extraction involves so you can decide if it's the right choice for you. We use local anaesthesia to numb your mouth around the tooth so you won't feel pain during the procedure.
For a simple extraction, our dentists gently rock the tooth back and forth to loosen it and then remove it from the jaw using forceps.
For more complex extractions, such as an impacted tooth, we may need to remove the tooth in pieces or refer you to an oral surgeon. These procedures may involve other forms of sedation, such as general anaesthesia.
After your tooth has been extracted, the gum will need time to heal. We recommend replacing the tooth with a bridge, denture or implant to avoid leaving a gap and prevent the surrounding teeth from moving into the gap and going out of alignment.
The wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt from the gums, usually not appearing until a person's late teens to mid-20s. If a wisdom tooth is causing you pain or other problems, make an appointment with our dentists. We'll take an x-ray of the tooth to see if it's likely to cause problems and should be removed.
Our dentists in Moranbah assess wisdom teeth on a case by case basis. If your situation is more complex, we may arrange a referral to an oral surgeon who can help you.
If you think you might need an extraction or you want to know more about tooth removal and replacement, call Moranbah Dental today on (07) 4941 7336. You can also book online