A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. If the tooth has poor prognosis (unlikely to recover), and root canal or any other treatment is not an option beyond what is reasonable to save, the tooth may have to be extracted.
- Extra teeth which are blocking other teeth from coming in.
- Severe gum disease which may affect the surrounding tissues and bone structures of teeth.
- Severe tooth decay or infection.
- In lireliaration for orthodontic treatment (braces).
- Insufficient space for wisdom teeth (impacted wisdom teeth).
- Receiving radiation to the head and neck may require extraction of teeth in the field of radiation.
Simple Extraction: A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. General dentists commonly do simple extractions. Most of these can be done using a local anesthetic, the tooth is lifted using an elevator and loosen it by moving the forceps back and forth. Then the tooth will be pulled out.
Surgical Extractions: Surgical extractions commonly are done by oral surgeons. Surgical extractions involves the removal of teeth that cannot be easily accessed, either because they have broken under the gum line or they have not erupted fully or they have roots that lock into your jaw bone. They are done with injections (local anesthesia), and you can also have conscious sedation. In a surgical extraction, the dentist will need to make a cut (incision) in your gum to reach the tooth.