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EXTRACTION

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WHEN IS A TOOTH
EXTRACTION NEEDED?
 

The dentist can recommend extracting a damaged tooth if they cannot fix it with a filling, crown, or other dental restorative treatments. Or they may recommend extraction when there isn't enough room for all your teeth in your mouth. There are other reasons tooth extraction might be necessary, such as:
 

  • ​Tooth decay or infections has reached deep into the root

  • Baby teeth aren't falling out in time for the permanent teeth to grow in

  • Orthodontic treatment like braces may work better if there is more room in the mouth 

  • Wisdom teeth are coming in during the patient's late teens or early 20s, and there is not enough room in the mouth. 

             

THE PROCESS 

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  • Before extraction, the patients' medical and dental history will be reviewed to ensure that the patient does not have any allergies or pre-existing conditions that could cause a complication during the procedure.

  • X-rays will be taken for the dentist to study the tooth's shape and position. The dentist will estimate the procedure's difficulty and then decide whether to refer you to an oral surgeon or complete it.

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SIMPLE EXTRACTION
 

  • The area around the tooth to be extracted will be numbed via a local anesthetic. 

  • The tooth will be loosen with an instrument called an elevator and be removed with dental forceps.
     

SURGICAL EXTRACTION 
 

The dentist may prescribe a surgical extraction if a tooth is broken off at the gumline or has not grown fully into the mouth yet.

  • The area to be treated will be numbed either via a local anesthetic or via an intravenous (IV) anesthesia. If your oral surgeon uses IV sedation, ensure you have a ride home after the procedure because it will not be safe to drive.

  • A small incision (cut) into the gum will be made for the underlying tooth to be removed.

  • Sometimes, some of the bone around the tooth may be removed or the tooth may be cut into half before being pulled out. 

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TAKING CARE
AFTER DENTAL EXTRACTION​
 

​Tooth extraction healing time can be between a few days to a couple of weeks. The most important thing to do after a tooth extraction is keeping the area clean to prevent infection. Immediately following the procedure, your dentist will place a gauze piece to keep on the extraction site for up to 45 minutes to limit bleeding while clotting takes place.
 

According to BMJ, it's normal to have some oozing from a tooth socket in the first 12-24 hours after an extraction. However, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews says that it is abnormal for bleeding to continue without clot formation or last beyond 8 to 12 hours.

 

If you find yourself with prolonged bleeding, you should call your oral surgeon/ dentist immediately. You shouldn't smoke for the next 24 hours, rinse your mouth vigorously or brush the teeth next to the extraction site.

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