Extractions

A tooth that has been damaged or broken can generally be fix by means of a filling, crown or other treatments. However, there are times when the damage is too severe for the tooth to be repaired. At times there may be a very loose tooth that can not be saved, even with bone replacement surgery (bone graft). In these situations the tooth needs to be extracted.

There are many reasons why a person would need to have a tooth extraction done. It is a simple and straight forward procedure that is very common to occur. The majority of time the extraction can be performed quickly while the individual is awake. Using local anesthetic injections help to eliminate painful sensations. In situations where the tooth is more difficult to remove the shape of the tooth roots and the integrity of the tooth may have to be worked on.

There are cases where more steps are needed to fulfill the extraction process. If a tooth is buried in the bone a surgical or trans alveolar approach may be necessary. This involves cutting the gum away and removing the part of bone that is holding the tooth in with a surgical drill.

Here are reasons for extractions:

• Having extra teeth that crowd or block other teeth from coming in.
• Creating room for the teeth that are being moved into place by braces.
• A tooth that has become infected may need to be extracted.
• Receiving radiation to the head and neck.
• Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. If all four wisdom teeth must be removed, they are typically extracted at the same time.

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