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Tooth Extraction

What is Tooth Extraction?

Also known as tooth pulling, tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth from the dental alveolus which is also known as the socket of the gums. Extraction is an option given to a patient apart from all other dental solutions that are available to them ( such as filling, root canal, and so forth). An extraction could take at least two visits to the clinic to complete, as there are other preparations that are made to ensure that no infection occurs after the removal.

The two types of tooth extractions:

Simple Extraction

This procedure is done on teeth that can be seen above the gums. Only localized anesthesia is needed for this operation.

Surgical Extractions

This type of tooth extraction involves actual surgery where the dentist will have to open up the gums via a surgical incision. This is so that the doctor is able to get to the tooth that is hidden or may have been broken under the gum line. In some other cases, the tooth may just have not fully erupted yet. However, for wisdom tooth removal, the tooth may have to be broken into several pieces to make sure the whole thing is removed, and nothing is left behind.

In this case, the patient is usually put under general anesthesia for this type of gum surgery. Generally, your dentist would recommend tooth extraction as a last resort. Saving the tooth when you can, is more often recommended.

Who opts for Tooth Extraction?

For Children:

On kids, the dentist may have to remove a temporary or “milk” tooth on a child to facilitate the growth of new permanent teeth. Sometimes, a “milk” tooth hangs around too long and too loose, and even wobbly, but never falling out. This causes some worry and a little bit of distress in children. Then when the time comes, daddy has to be the one to tie the tooth to the door with a thread which makes it a little bit more traumatic for the child. Going to your dentist to have a “milk” tooth extracted is a much safer and less stressful way for your child to get rid of a tooth that he doesn’t need anymore.

Children may also come to the clinic due to decayed permanent tooth and that also needs to be removed as well.

For Adults:

  • Failed root canal
    if both the patient and dentist have tried their best to save the tooth but did not help any, there is no other recourse but to give up the tooth and clean the area to make sure it does not get reinfected.
  • Impacted Tooth
    The problem of the impacted tooth stems from the fact that the tooth is trying to grow and erupt from the gums in a wrongly positioned manner. In most cases, a growing rear molar might be pushing up against another tooth instead of going upwards. This could produce excruciating pain as there is pressure on both teeth radiating from the root. To relieve pain and avoid prolonged gum injury, the horizontally impacted tooth is surgically removed.
  • Plain decayed Tooth
    A tooth that is at first glance is already unsavable and needs to be removed immediately.

What are the Benefits of Opting for Tooth Extraction?

1

It Protects Your Surrounding Teeth

If you are faced with infected gums due to tooth decay, injury, or for any other reason, tooth extraction could be the only option left. By any means, you will have to remove it to stop the infection from spreading along the gum line. Removing that sick tooth will also eliminate the possibility of another lost tooth due to infection.
2

Relief from Pain

Everyone knows and may have experienced the terrible gnawing pain of an aching tooth. As we all know, we will do anything everything just to make it stop. More often than not, a severe toothache already necessitates tooth extraction since in most cases it can no longer be saved. Aside from being able to stop the infection from spreading, what a joy it is for the patient to be finally relieved from the pain.
3

To Keep a Beautiful Smile

Sometimes your dentist would recommend extraction to make way for better-looking teeth that are being crowded out by crooked ones. So, your orthodontist would map out a plan to remove some, or if not, one of those not-so-nice-looking teeth to pull out. They then apply brace to position all the others together, for a much nicer-looking teeth and smile.

Final Thoughts

Regular visits to the dentist can greatly help save most of your teeth as opposed to always getting stuck with extraction as the only remaining option. By the way, brushing your teeth regularly helps too.

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