Tooth Extraction: The Final Option for Gum Disease Treatment

For years, your dentist has warned you about gum disease, and you’ve seen its impact in your receding gums. By now, it has progressed so far that your teeth are becoming loose and your jawbone is losing strength. When you finally resolve to treat the problem, your dentist tells you that tooth extraction may be your only available option. But how can that help with gum disease? Are there other treatments? Answer these questions about more in this blog post!

What Other Treatments Address Gum Disease?

As much as possible, dentists try to avoid removing permanent teeth. After all, you only get one set to last your whole life! Before extraction, dentists often try to get rid of gum disease through scaling and root planing, which involves a deep cleaning below the gumline and making the rough root surfaces smooth. Depending on your needs and the severity of your case, your dentist may also use a soft tissue laser or antibiotic therapy to eliminate the bacteria that are less visible to the naked eye. Only when these treatments fail or if your case is already too advanced will extraction be considered.

How Does Tooth Extraction Help with Gum Disease?

At first, you may wonder how getting rid of a tooth can impact an infection in your gum tissue. However,  the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease adhere to teeth through a sticky, white film called plaque. When plaque builds up near and underneath the gums, the infected gums recede, and bone tissue starts to deteriorate.

Why Is Extraction Necessary for Gum Disease Treatment?

Notwithstanding the treatment alternatives, in some cases the best course of action is to remove some permanent teeth entirely because the bone tissue has been too badly damaged or because plaque buildup continues to come back even after other measures have been attempted. Following extraction, the bacteria causing gum disease have nowhere to attach, removing the primary source of the infection.

Eventually with time, the bone will not provide adequate support for the tooth, and it will come out on its own. However, when this occurs, it may not come out cleanly or comfortably as it otherwise would if it were removed by your dentist. Waiting for nature to take its course could also increase your risk of a painful infection. That’s why it’s better to receive an extraction from a professional who can ensure proper healing.

In the end, if you have advanced periodontal disease, extraction may be your best chance to have a healthy smile down the road. When you work closely with a dentist, you can stop bad bacteria from further destroying your oral health, replace the teeth you’ve lost, and get back on track.

About the Practice

If you have gum disease, Boyles General Dentistry offer many solutions to help. Dr. Franklin Boyles has been practicing for more than 40 years and has achieved Master status with the Academy of General Dentistry, one of the most prestigious distinctions in the field. His son, Dr. Stephen Boyles, who is also a Master with the Academy of General Dentistry, is well on his way to building an equally impressive background. Through the use of advanced technology like a soft tissue laser, they can address your gum disease and provide replacement options that will give you back confidence in your smile. Contact Boyles General Dentistry to schedule an appointment today!