How Does A Dentist Remove A Tooth | Parkview Dentistry Of AZ

How Does a Dentist Remove a Tooth? Dr. Laskis
Tooth Removal Fountain Hills

TL;DR

  • Tooth extractions are needed for reasons such as wisdom teeth, overcrowding before braces, severe decay, infection, or to protect patients with serious medical treatments like chemotherapy or organ transplants.

  • Most routine extractions are quick outpatient procedures performed by a general dentist or oral surgeon.

  • A simple extraction removes a visible tooth above the gum line using local anesthesia, an elevator tool, and forceps, with pressure but no pain.

  • A surgical extraction is used for impacted or hard-to-reach teeth and may involve local anesthesia, IV medicine, or general anesthesia, plus cutting the gum and possibly removing bone or sectioning the tooth.

  • Patients should expect loud cracking or grinding sounds during extractions, which are normal, not a sign that something is wrong.

  • After the tooth is removed, gauze and sometimes stitches help stop bleeding and protect the socket while it heals.

  • Common complications include dry socket, small tooth or bone fragments, swelling, retained root tips, and, rarely, infection, all of which your dentist can address if they occur.

  • Some patients may choose a laser dentist for added precision and comfort in certain procedures.

Common Reasons You Might Need a Tooth Extraction

There are many reasons why a dental patient would need to have a tooth pulled. Having wisdom teeth removed is probably the most common, but there are many other reasons why tooth extraction may be necessary. Overcrowding is a valid reason for having a tooth pulled out. For instance, a patient who is getting braces put on may need to have a tooth or two removed so that their other teeth shift into proper alignment.

Tooth infections or tooth decay may also require a tooth extraction. Also, a patient about to undergo chemotherapy or receive an organ replacement may need to have weak teeth removed to ensure their mouth stays healthy. A tooth extraction is performed by a general dentist or oral surgeon.

Whether you see a female dentist or a male dentist, most tooth extractions are pretty quick and uncomplicated, which means the procedure is an outpatient one. However, an impacted tooth, a broken tooth, or a damaged tooth, or a tooth below the gum tissue might require a more involved tooth removal procedure.

 

Simple Extraction Versus Surgical Extraction

 

As mentioned above, your tooth extraction will either be a simple or a surgical procedure. The deciding factor is whether your tooth is visible (above the gum line) or impacted. For a simple tooth extraction, you will receive a local anesthetic that numbs the area. The patient may feel a little pressure during the procedure, but not any pain. Your general dentist or oral surgeon will then use an instrument called an elevator to loosen the tooth. Then, the dentist or oral surgeon will use forceps to remove the tooth.

For a surgical tooth extraction, you may receive both a local anesthetic and intravenous medicine. The local anesthesia will numb the area around the tooth. The intravenous medicine will help you stay calm during the procedure. In some cases, general anesthesia may be administered. This will make you unconscious during the surgical extraction. Then, the dentist or oral surgeon will make a small incision in your gums.

From here, they may also have to remove bone around the tooth or cut the tooth before it can be extracted. Using a forceps, the dentist or oral surgeon will grasp the tooth and rock it back and forth gently to loosen it. If it is a hard-to-remove tooth, it may have to be removed in pieces. Although the patient should feel no pain during the procedure, only pressure, there may be loud noises during a tooth extraction.

Having a tooth removed is a loud procedure, and it may sound as if something is breaking or the patient may hear a grinding sound. While these noises may be distressing, especially if the patient suffers from dental anxiety, the loud noises are normal. It should be mentioned here so the patient knows everything that could happen during a tooth extraction.

Having knowledge about how the process works may help a nervous patient to stay calm during an extraction. After the affected tooth is pulled, the dentist or oral surgeon will place gauze into the empty socket. The dentist or oral surgeon will then have the patient bite down, which stops the bleeding. In some cases, a few stitches may be required to close the gums up.

For patients looking for advanced technology options, choosing a laser dentist near you may provide additional precision and comfort in certain procedures.

Common Complications Of a Tooth Extraction

 

Although most tooth extractions are a simple procedure, there are a few common complications a patient should be on the lookout for…

-dry socket: When the blood clot is lost in the extraction site, a dry socket forms. It is not dangerous, but very painful. A dry socket forms 3-5 days after the tooth is pulled. It can heal on its own within a week, or your dentist can place medicine in the socket to reduce the pain.

-tooth or bone fragments: This happens when small pieces of bone or tooth get dislodged. A patient might notice a small, hard piece in the area where the tooth was extracted. Your dentist can help by removing the pieces.

-swelling: Swelling is a very common complication when the extraction is difficult. A patient may experience swelling at the extraction site and along their face. Use ice to reduce swelling.

-a root tip not retrieved: If a patient has teeth with curved and skinny root tips, it may make it difficult for the dentist to remove them. If it is too risky, the dentist may keep these root tips in place. They should not cause any pain or problems long-term.

-infection: This is very unlikely to occur, but it may happen if the teeth pulled were abscessed before the procedure. The dentist may prescribe an antibiotic and drain the area if need be.

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