When does a tooth need extracted?

Hi. I'm only 14 years old but I have really bad teeth because I didn't see the dentist for a few years. I had some fillings when I was little and the dentist said I need a lot more now :o(

Anyway, one of my teeth that had a filling in it from when I was younger was really sore last week but then all of a sudden stopped hurting and I told the dentist today when I went to get some of my fillings done. My mum had said I would probably need a root canal on it, but the dentist said it had to get pulled out.

So today I got that tooth pulled out and I got fillings in three other teeth and I still have to get another 3 done next week. I feel really bad cos I didn't look after my teeth well enough or I wouldn't need fillings :o( My brother and sister have got perfect teeth.

Anyway, why did the dentist pull out my tooth? When do they pull them out instead of doing fillings and stuff?

my teeths are turning slight yellow.am afraid. any help?

Answers:
Hi Lucy. First of all, don't worry about having fillings. Lots of people have fillings and it's not your fault that your parents didn't take you to the dentist regularly - that's their responsibility not yours. I always had really good teeth when I was your age but I didn't go to the dentist for a long time and now I need fillings in almost all of my teeth so I know how you feel.

I had to have a tooth pulled out too, in my case it was because it was very badly decayed and the dentist said it was too rotten to save. That's usually why teeth are extracted, if the decay is very bad. But that doesn't mean you haven't looked after your teeth, don't worry - if the tooth already had a filling in it then some bacteria probably got in underneath it and it decayed under the filling - there's nothing you could have done about that.

Other Answers:

Which is better?

they pulled your tooth because of 2 reasons:
#1) you tooth was too far gone to do a root canal or any other procedure.
#2) it costs cheaper to pull the tooth then to try and save it.

Any suggestions on what someone can do about bad breath?

I'm no dentist but it's pretty obvious that a tooth filled years ago would not be suitable for another filling to-day. Trust your dentist - they don't extract healthy teeth!

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When does a tooth need extracted?

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