At Granite Belt Dental, we will always take every possible measure to help you preserve your natural teeth. In an attempt to save a tooth, your dentist may recommend root canal treatment. Unfortunately root canal is not a suitable solution for every problem, and there are several scenarios which may result in a tooth having to be extracted.

• Significant decay or damage to the tooth- when a tooth is badly damaged enough that reconstructive work (such as fillings and crowns) would not be effective, extraction is sometimes the best treatment
• Periodontal disease- due to poor dental hygiene and a build-up of plaque and calculus (tartar) on a tooth, the gums may become inflamed and infected (periodontal disease). If not treated promptly, periodontal disease is likely to damage the underlying bone and other tissues around the tooth's root.
• To prevent infection- on rare occasions, even after the best care, an infection can occur. If the risk from infection is high, then it may be best to extract the tooth.
• Overcrowding- as part of orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist may recommend removal of teeth. If your teeth are too big for your mouth or extra teeth are coming through that are causing overcrowding and discomfort, a dentist may remove a tooth or teeth to help the rest of the teeth come through easily
• Vertical cracks in a tooth- if a tooth is fractured vertically, a crack may be extending from the chewing surface of the tooth all the way to the root surface. They often show minimal signs and symptoms and may therefore go unnoticed.

Your dentist will always discuss options for replacing your extracted tooth with you prior to treatment. If your tooth has been removed, it is important to replace it with a new tooth to avoid bone loss and shifting out of the neighboring teeth. Missing one tooth can affect your dental health in many ways including your confidence, digestion, and nutrition.

We offer a number of modern tooth replacement options to restore your complete, functional smile. Some of the options and procedures we offer include: dentures, crowns, bridges and implants. If you have questions or worries, feel free to ask us about them. Our dentists will be pleased to answer all your questions. We want you to be relaxed and comfortable during the procedure.