Posted by Dr. Abeyta on Jan 11 2012, 01:27 AM
Tooth decay occurs when plaque is left to sit on your teeth. This acidic substance will eventually erode the protective enamel, and you will eventually experience a cavity.
Although cavities are treatable, it’s best to avoid them altogether. Cavities will not go away on their own, and they may continue to grow larger. This means that you’ll need a dental filling. If the cavity is left untreated, you will lose more tooth structure, and the tooth may eventually fall out.
Extraction may also be necessary if your tooth is severely damaged due to an accident or injury. For example, if your tooth is impacted and is preventing other teeth from erupting, it will need to be extracted so the other teeth can erupt properly.
If gum disease is left untreated, it will continue to damage the teeth and gums, eventually causing tooth loss.
As the gums pull away from the teeth, the pockets between the teeth and gums become deeper. Bacteria will build up in these pockets, and this can cause infection. As the infection continues, the bone and gum tissue will continue to break down, eventually leading to tooth loss.
Extraction can fix this problem. After removing the broken and damaged tooth, the extraction site will be treated. This will help to keep the area clean and free from infection.
Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that grow in a crooked or angled direction. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause complications including pain, infection, and damage to surrounding teeth. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, your dentist will suggest treatment.
Because the roots of impacted wisdom teeth grow around and under the gum line, removal is often necessary to prevent potential complications such as infection.
When teeth are crowded or crooked, there may not be enough room in the mouth for all of your teeth to fit normally. This can lead to crooked teeth or teeth that overlap.
This can also affect the way that the upper and lower jaws line up. Misaligned jaws can affect the way teeth line up and fit together. This can also affect a person’s bite.