Extractions

There will be times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth has curved or long roots that prevent it from falling out as it should, and the tooth must be removed to allow for the permanent tooth to erupt. At other times, a tooth may have so much decay and is nonrestorable, or the nerve may have become infected and an abscess has formed.  Crowding, orthodontic correction, or problems with a wisdom tooth can also require removal of a tooth.

Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift or tip causing problems with alignment. To avoid  these complications, your dentist may recommend that a space maintainer be placed to keep the teeth in their proper position and preserve the space for the unerupted or missing permanent tooth.