Tooth extraction procedures are performed by a dentist or an oral surgeon. They are usually outpatient procedures. Here’s why, when, and how they are done.

Why Tooth Extraction?

Some of the reasons you might need tooth extraction include:

• Impacted wisdom teeth – these are common in teens and young adults. An impacted tooth cannot erupt or grow at an angle facing another tooth, facing the back of the mouth, or lying on the jawbone.
• Excessive tooth decay.
• Tooth infection.
• Crowding–this is teeth’s inability to fit within the jaws.
• To create room for braces.

When do I Consider Tooth Extraction?

Consider tooth extraction if you have decayed painful teeth. Other instances that cause extraction could be damaged or broken teeth through an accident or complications from orthopedic treatment.

Your dentist may recommend it for painless impacted teeth that have minimal room to erupt or develop as normal teeth. This prevents decay and infections.

In rare circumstances, patients may develop a cyst–a fluid-filled sac around the tooth. Teeth may also be extracted due to periodontal disease, gum disease or infection.

Procedures

Extractions can be surgical or non-surgical. The non-surgical extraction is a fast outpatient procedure where the dentist injects a local anesthetic around the tooth. This numbs the gum and minimizes the pain of extraction. An elevator is then used to loosen the tooth before it is plucked using forceps.

Surgical tooth extractions involve gum tissue incision. It is mostly done on impacted teeth. The dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon if the surgery is complex. For instance, where the tooth is severely broken, or the part to be extracted is not on the surface. Apart from an anesthetic, sedation may be used for such procedures since they are longer and more painful.

Overall, tooth extraction is not risky and is only done when no other solutions can apply. Common complications include a painful socket(wound) after the blood clot dislodges, infection due to trapped food particles, damage to neighboring teeth, jawbone, or nerves.

Schedule Your Visit With Us

At Wytheville Dental Group, we take your dental health seriously. Having regular dental checkups helps maintain your gums and teeth. Contact us for tooth extraction and other periodontic and prosthodontic dental services.