Extractions (the removal of teeth) are often used as a quick fix to eliminate dental pain. In the short term, this seems like an excellent solution. However, if you were to remove every tooth that ever caused you dental pain, you may eventually end up with no teeth! At Camp Hill Dental we strive to make our clients aware of the long term implications of extractions. We prefer to keep teeth wherever possible.

Extractions are only recommended in cases where the long-term prognosis for the tooth is extremely poor. Occasionally, a tooth may require extraction as a result of advanced infection or a complex fracture.

Once a tooth has been extracted, it is necessary that we replace that tooth as soon as possible - this will prevent a number of dental concerns that arise from having a missing tooth. There are three different options available to replace a missing tooth:

1. Dental Implant - this is the most successful and long-lasting treatment.
2. Bridge - this option is also very effective.
3. Partial denture - this is ineffective and not recommended.

If you are currently missing a tooth, and would like to consider means of replacing it, please contact Camp Hill Dental to schedule an appointment with Dr Perry. Our team will provide you will all the necessary information, so you can make a fully informed decision which is ideal for your dental health.

If you hope to keep all of your own teeth for the rest of your life, then we are the right practice for you.

We strongly recommend the replacement of missing teeth:

• To improve the appearance of your smile - a missing tooth can be very noticeable.
• To improve chewing ability .
• To prevent the teeth, on either side of the missing tooth, from drifting forward/backward.
• To prevent the adjacent teeth from 'tipping' over into the space created by the missing
  tooth, thus increasing the incidence of gum disease and subsequent loss of other teeth.
• "Drifting" and "tipping" may result in your bite becoming misaligned.
• To prevent the opposing tooth from 'over-erupting' - that is, excessive protruding through
  the gum .