Extractions
What are Tooth Extractions?
Tooth extractions are usually the last option that Dr. Price resorts to when dealing with restorative dental procedures in his Burke clinic. A dental extraction or exodontia is the procedure of removing a tooth from the mouth. Removing a tooth becomes necessary when there is a severe case of decay or an abscessed tooth that no other dental treatment can cure. If the extent of the damage to the tooth structure is too much to render a tooth non-restorable then an extraction is called for. Oftentimes, a root canal therapy is suggested in cases of infection, but if it is so severe, extraction is recommended. If a patient has a compromised immune system due to chemotherapy treatments etc., then extraction is necessary to avoid putting the person at risk of infection. Extractions are also a routine procedure that is used for removing impacted or wisdom teeth. Dentists can also order for a tooth extraction when he has to make space in the mouth for orthodontic treatments. For procedures like orthodontia, it is sometimes necessary to extract some teeth if a patient’s teeth are too big for the mouth. If a tooth cannot erupt because there is not enough room in the mouth, your dentist will also recommend pulling it out.
What are the types of Extractions?
According to Dr. Price, extractions are classified as simple extractions or surgical tooth extractions.
Simple Extractions are performed when the tooth is still visible in the mouth and extraction will only require an elevator and dental forceps to extract. Local anesthetic is applied and the tooth is lifted using an elevator and forceps with slow steady pressure. The tooth is rocked back and forth until it comes loose or the periodontal ligament has separated.
Surgical Extractions are used for teeth that cannot be easily accessed because they have not erupted fully or they have fractured under the gum line.
What is a Tooth Extraction procedure like?
Only dentists and oral surgeons with special training are allowed to perform tooth extractions. Before removing the tooth, your dentist will numb the area by giving you a local anesthetic. The amount of anesthesia that your dentist will use depends on how many teeth will be extracted and your pain threshold. For surgical extractions, a general anesthetic is used to prevent a patient from feeling any pain in the whole body and will make the patient sleep through the whole procedure. After the tooth has been removed, your dentist will then pack a gauze pad into the socket to stop the bleeding. It is sometimes necessary for the dentist to close the area up with stitches. You can talk to your doctor about replacing the tooth with an implant, denture or a bridge.
