Re: hospital trip...
Reply #19 –
Be careful. Just yanking it can cause even bigger problems later.
(copied from one site I found while researching "root cbuttstuffs")...
Why replace missing teeth?
Losing a tooth can be of social and psychological concern. Teeth are lost for a number of reasons including: dental decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and trauma (injury or accident). When a tooth is lost the neighboring teeth are affected. Because the support and chewing forces are altered the remaining teeth will begin to shift. The tooth above or below the one that was lost will begin to move up and out of it's socket and the teeth adjacent to the one that was lost will start to tilt into the space. This accelerates periodontal (gum) disease and causes further breakdown of the dental arch. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth will eventually be lost, due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.
Consequences of tooth extraction
Having a missing tooth can lead to several problems such as shifting teeth, difficulty chewing, getting food stuck, malocclusion and pain in the joints. Often the dentist can repair the site with an implant, fixed bridge or denture.
You want prices on an "implant, fixed bridge or denture"?