Dental assistants experience a busy work life, with duties ranging from administrative tasks to taking x-rays and removing stitches. They work with the rest of the dental team, sometimes providing assistance to the dentist as they work on more complex procedures. 

Although sometimes necessary for the dentist to perform, permanent tooth extraction can be an unpleasant ordeal for the client, caused by overcrowded teeth, tooth decay, or gum disease—among other things. Here are a few facts about it for aspiring dental assistants. 

1. Correcting Overcrowded Teeth Through Extraction Methods

There are times when teeth grow out of alignment, often resulting in a crowded mouth as teeth wedge themselves against one another to fit inside. To avoid this from happening, dentists could recommend tooth extraction as a common method to promote natural alignment. Pulling permanent teeth is irreversible, but it provides more room for other teeth to comfortably grow and settle in. 

2. Tooth Extractions May Be Done to Help Treat Fractured Teeth or Tooth Breakage

Your dental assistant training gives you the skills needed to take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts and make temporary crowns and restorations. Sometimes, temporary crowns may not be an option for clients if the damage is too great.

Even though teeth are considered to be one of the hardest substances in our bodies, they are also prone to developing fractures. A tooth can crack when it experiences high pressure, like heavy grinding or when biting into hard foods. If a tooth cracks or breaks at or near the gum line, then it can be difficult to build on the existing structure for successful tooth restoration. In these situations, tooth extractions serve as a reliable alternative.

3. Removing Impacted Molars or Other Teeth to Avoid Future Complications 

Impacted teeth are ones that didn’t break through the gum. This can happen due to overcrowding, displaced teeth, or teeth that have grown in at odd angles. Molars can often become impacted as they develop later on and can become too large to be supported. In these cases, dentists perform tooth extractions to avoid future complications from happening, ensuring that a client’s teeth can settle in comfortably.

4. Using Your Dental Assistant Training to Help Dentists Address Tooth Decay or Infection

When you become a dental assistant, you will likely encounter clients with tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common reason for tooth extractions. Some clients might need tooth extractions after years of putting off regular dentist checkups and exams. Extreme tooth decay creates irreparable damage that deteriorates the very core of a tooth, potentially causing root canal infection. Here, tooth extractions become necessary to stop further decay. 

5. Teeth Loosened by Gum Disease May Be Extracted

Gum disease typically causes gum recession, where gums around the teeth pull back to expose more of the tooth. In severe cases, the gums deteriorate—causing loose teeth and prompting bacteria to fill in the empty gaps. When the structure surrounding the tooth degenerates, tooth extraction is recommended to prevent teeth from naturally falling off. In these cases, gum disease treatment and tooth replacement procedures also become necessary. 

Are you interested in kickstarting your dental assistant career?

Contact Discovery Career College to learn more about our program!