No one wants to hear that a tooth has to come out. Still, whether we like it or not, certain symptoms are clear signs a tooth needs to be pulled.
Signs that you need a tooth extraction include persistent, severe pain, extensive structural damage, or recurring infection. Even in serious cases, however, many of these teeth can still be saved with root canal therapy. Your dentist’s first choice is always to preserve a natural tooth, so you’ll undergo an exam and x-rays before tooth extraction in Edina, MN, is recommended.
Signs a Tooth Needs to Be Pulled
Certain symptoms suggest a tooth is too badly compromised to save. These symptoms warrant an immediate call to your dentist:
- Tooth pain that is severe, throbbing, or does not go away
- Swelling in the gums, jaw, or face
- A tooth that is badly broken, cracked below the gumline, or heavily decayed
- An abscess or infection that keeps coming back
Swelling that spreads or makes it hard to breathe or swallow is an emergency that demands immediate medical care.
Alternatives to Tooth Extraction
Pulling a tooth is never the first choice. Extraction is typically reserved for teeth that are too damaged to restore. Fortunately, many damaged teeth can be saved via the following:
- A filling to repair decay that hasn't reached the nerve
- Root canal therapy to clear an infection from the tooth’s inner canals
- A crown to restore form, function, and strength to a weakened tooth
At 50th and France Dental Care, we offer all of these options, including same-day CEREC® crowns, so the full process of safeguarding your tooth can often happen on-site, during a single visit.
Why an Exam and X-Rays Matter
What you feel and what is happening beneath the surface don’t always match. A clinical exam shows the visible damage, but x-rays reveal decay near the nerve, infection at the root tip, bone loss, or cracks that are deeper than they appear. Together they show whether a tooth can be restored or whether tooth extraction in Edina, MN, is the best choice.
Tooth Extractions in Edina, MN
If you’re in Edina and want to learn more about the signs a tooth may need to be pulled, contact Dr. Andrew Anderson and the skilled 50th and France Dental Care team to schedule an exam.