In an appointment, one of our dentists may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed; others may have advanced periodontal disease or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth) or preparation for further treatment like placing dental implants.

Is a tooth extraction a simple procedure?

There are two types of tooth extraction. A simple extraction can be carried out if the tooth can be seen above the gum line. A more complicated procedure is a surgical extraction. This occurs when the tooth is broken or hasn’t come through the gum.

How is the tooth extracted?

With a simple extraction, your doctor makes the tooth loose by using a special instrument called an elevator. Once it has been loosened sufficiently, the dentist will then pull the tooth out with dental forceps. A surgical extraction is carried out for teeth still under the gum, and your dentist will make an incision in your gum along the gum line and then extract the tooth beneath it. Sometimes these teeth have to be sectioned into pieces.

Why do wisdom teeth often need extracting?

Wisdom teeth don’t typically appear until after all or most of an adult’s teeth have come through, and sometimes there isn’t enough room for any more teeth. This impedes the growth of the wisdom teeth, and they can become impacted.

Impacted wisdom teeth can become infected or even damage the teeth next to them. If this happens, then our dentists may recommend that the wisdom teeth are removed. This is often carried out by a surgical procedure because wisdom teeth are often hard to access or under the gum line.

What pain relief can I have for a tooth extraction?

A simple extraction will typically only require an anesthetic injection, which numbs the tooth and the gum around it. A surgical procedure may involve an anesthetic injection and nitrous sedation, which helps you relax. We offer oral conscious sedation dentistry as an option for patients with anxiety and/or fears surrounding the procedure.

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