Each individual tooth is important to the overall structure of the jaw and health of the surrounding teeth. For this reason, we will most often attempt to save the tooth. Typically, it is cheaper and better to fix the tooth using procedures such as fillings, inlays and onlays, build-ups and crowns or root canals.

However, there are several possible reasons we might recommend extracting a tooth instead of saving it.

There can be so much decay in the tooth that it can not be restored and may endanger the surrounding teeth and jaw. In this case we will recommend the removing of the tooth and replacing it with a partial, bridge or dental implant.

A baby tooth can cause problems if it does not fall out as it should. Most often, this is because it was not shaped correctly or it has too long of a root.  It will be important to remove the baby tooth to make room for the permanent tooth to erupt.                         

In Orthodontic situations, to relieve crowding, it is sometimes necessary to remove teeth to make space.

 Misaligned or impacted teeth (such as the Wisdom Teeth) can cause pain or discomfort and affect the alignment of the rest of the jaw. 

With most extractions, a local anesthetic is typically all that is needed to make the procedure comfortable. While this procedure is generally very fast, please share any concerns you may have with Dr. Fergusson. For our "anxious" patients, we can prescribe a small pill to take the edge off.

If the idea of having a tooth taken out while being awake freaks you out, we can refer you to the proper specialist.

When a tooth has been removed, nearby teeth may move and cause problems with chewing or with your jaw joint. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants are said to be the most natural replacement for missing teeth because they mimic the natural tooth root as opposed to simply bridging the gap as with Bridges. Because they replace the tooth root, they prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting and interfering with proper jaw function.