There are two different kinds of dental tooth extractions, simple tooth extractions and surgical tooth extractions. A simple tooth extraction procedure is accomplished from above the gums and does not require the use of surgical techniques.
Understanding the Simple Tooth Extraction Process
When it comes to addressing tooth damage that is the result of injury or decay, your dentist will always try first to preserve your natural tooth. There are some situations where extracting a tooth is actually the best option, like when the tooth has been damaged past the point of repair, or if you are not a good candidate for a root canal or there are overcrowding issues that cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatments. There can also be times when tooth extraction is chosen by you because it is less costly than other restoration options and has a higher chance of successful results.
Your dentist will determine if you are a candidate for a simple tooth extraction. They will confirm that the tooth to be removed has straight roots and has enough structure above the gumline to be grasped and manipulated. They will also review your health history and suggest that you refrain from using blood thinning medications temporarily on the days surrounding your extraction. Once it is determined that simple tooth extraction is appropriate, your dentist will:
- Administer anesthetic- To ensure that the procedure is smooth and comfortable, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to the immediate area around the tooth. They may choose to apply a topical anesthetic gel prior to the injection in order to further minimize any discomfort from the injection itself.
- Release periodontal ligament fibers- The periodontal ligament fibers that suspend the tooth from the bony socket must be loosened for the tooth to be successfully extracted from the mouth.
- Loosen and elevate the tooth- A special dental tool called an elevator is used to loosen the tooth. This method works because the bony socket around the tooth is pliable, and the elevator enlarges the socket enough to allow the tooth to be removed.
- Deliver the tooth from the mouth- Now using forceps, the dentist will grasp the loosened tooth and simply remove it.
- Perform ridge preservation if necessary- In some cases, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth as soon as possible. When this has been decided, your dentist might immediately follow a simple tooth extraction with a ridge preservation via socket graft procedure. This is the placing of bone graft material in the empty tooth socket to slow the bone reabsorption process. This will help to ensure that the bony ridge remains the same height and width and will be better able to support a replacement tooth. When this procedure does not immediately follow the simple tooth extraction, the bony ridge immediately starts to deteriorate, which will affect the success of a future tooth replacement.
- Minimize bleeding- There are no major arteries in tooth sockets, but simple tooth extraction can still result in bleeding. Pressure will be applied to the tooth socket to minimize this bleeding.
- Give you post-operative instructions- Depending on your specific dental and medical condition, your dentist will provide post-operative instructions to help you recover comfortably from your simple tooth extraction.