What are tooth extractions?
A tooth extraction is a procedure that permanently removes one of your natural teeth from its socket and its connection with the underlying bone.
The team at Cute Dental Care, PC, prefers a conservative approach to dentistry, and the practitioners make every effort to avoid unnecessary extractions.
If and when an extraction is necessary, however, you have access to highly skilled dental specialists who can perform your extraction under the strictest standards. Advancements in dental technology have made extractions much easier to bear than in decades past.
When is a tooth extraction necessary?
Dental restorations can go a long way toward repairing damage to your natural teeth and preventing extraction. There are cases, however, when an extraction is the best possible treatment option.
Some of the reasons an extraction might be necessary include:
- To make room in your bite to facilitate orthodontic treatment
- To remove a tooth that is too damaged to repair
- To address advanced decay
- To reduce crowding
- To remove a baby tooth that is not coming out on its own
- To remove remaining teeth in preparation for dentures or dental implants
- To remove impacted wisdom teeth
In rare cases, patients who are preparing for an organ transplant or certain types of chemotherapy need teeth extractions to reduce the risk of systemic infection.
What happens during a tooth extraction?
First, you receive a numbing medication to eliminate sensation in the targeted portion of your mouth. Once the area is numb, your dentist uses a device called an elevator to help loosen the connection between your tooth and bone tissue.
A device called forceps allows your dentist to grasp the tooth and lift it out of the socket. A back-and-forth rocking motion sometimes eases this part of the process.
In cases where a tooth is broken at the gum line or impacted, it may be necessary to break the tooth into smaller pieces to facilitate removal. You won’t feel a thing during this part of the process.
In the case of impacted wisdom teeth, the overlying gum tissue may need to be cut to gain access to the tooth surface.
Once the tooth is removed, a small piece of gauze is positioned over the site to control bleeding. You’ll receive full post-procedure care instructions before you leave, and adhering to those guidelines is critical to a successful healing process.
If you have questions about tooth extraction, reach out to the Cute Dental Care, PC, team to book an appointment online or by phone.
