Treating Gum Disease With Tooth Extraction

General dentists, like any dental professional, strive to help patients keep all of their natural teeth. However, tooth extraction may be the only solution when gum disease becomes severe. A dentist can perform this oral health-saving procedure and recommend options to restore fullness to a patient's smile.

Gum disease: What to know

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an oral health condition in which the gums have become inflamed and infected. The gums typically appear red or purple, feel sore, and bleed easily. This can make it difficult to eat, brush, and floss without pain. They may also start to pull away from the teeth (gum recession), loosening and pushing them out of alignment.

How tooth extractions help with gum disease

Untreated gum disease can progress to the point where it damages the jawbone, causing deterioration and eventual tooth loss. The tooth may become too loose and painful to use as intended. If other treatments cannot restore the tooth to its full function, a general dentist may recommend pulling the tooth (tooth extraction) as part of a patient's gum disease treatment. This procedure involves removing the whole tooth, including the root.

Why do dentists try to save natural teeth when possible?

As mentioned, the dentist will only recommend a tooth extraction when necessary. A general dentist will consider all other treatment avenues before pulling the tooth. This is because preserving the natural tooth structure is considered the safest option. Like most procedures, there is a risk of infection after tooth extraction. The gap left by the pulled tooth will also allow the surrounding teeth to shift around, and the jawbone will be prone to shrinking.

However, it is considered safer to have a tooth professionally pulled when medically necessary than to wait for it to fall out due to gum disease. The latter will likely be more painful and accompanied by damage to the surrounding teeth, gums, and underlying bone. Tooth extractions can save the patient from these negative effects and, in some cases, even prevent infection. It is also possible to pull an infected tooth. The dentist may prescribe antibiotics to reduce infection risk after the procedure.

Once the extraction site heals, dentists can discuss tooth replacements. Patients do not have to live with a gap in their smile forever. Dental implants, bridges, and flippers can restore the smile to its original appearance.

Gum disease treatment after tooth extraction

After removing the problem tooth, the general dentist can proceed to other treatments to help with gum disease, such as scaling and root planing. These procedures involve deep cleaning the teeth above and just under the gum line. Scaling involves removing any plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth's surfaces, while root planing works to prevent its return by smoothing the surface of the teeth's roots. Other gum disease treatments focus on rebuilding the gum line and reducing the size of the gum pockets.