dental extraction

Tooth extraction is a standard dental procedure, with two of the more common reasons for extracting a tooth being related to severe tooth decay and tooth trauma. When a tooth is pulled it leaves a hole where the tooth used to be, which needs to clot to prevent an infection. The clot acts as a barrier to any outside elements that can cause potential infections. If for some reason the clot is not able to form, then the area is going to become prone to getting an infection. A tooth extraction is a dental procedure during which your tooth is completely removed from its socket. Sometimes, people refer to this as “pulling” a tooth.

Before the Dental Extraction

Prior to commencing a dental extraction procedure, it is important to review the dental and health history of the patient. There are some health conditions and medications that can change the suitability of dental extraction and the procedure.

For example, patients who have had a joint replacement (for instance, of the knee or hip), or who have certain problems with their heart (such as a heart murmur or replacement valves) may need to have prophylactic antibiotics before the procedure to help prevent infection.

Medications used to change the consistency or clotting characteristics of blood, such as warfarin, clopidogrel or aspirin, may need to be ceased some time before the procedure to reduce the risk of prolonged bleeding.

What are the steps of dental extraction?

1.Administer anesthetic
In order to ensure that the procedure is as smooth and comfortable as possible, your dentist will inject local anesthetic into the immediate area around the tooth. He may choose to apply a topical anesthetic gel prior to the injection in order to further minimize any discomfort caused by the injection itself.

2.Release periodontal ligament fibers
Regardless of the condition of the tooth intended for extraction, the periodontal ligament fibers that suspend the tooth from the bony socket must be released in order for it to be successfully extracted from the mouth.

3.Loosen and elevate the tooth
A special dental tool called an elevator is used to make the loose tooth even looser. This works because the bony housing around the tooth is pliable, and the elevator essentially enlarges the socket just enough to allow the tooth to be removed.

4.Deliver the tooth from the mouth
Using forceps, the dentist will grasp the loosened tooth and remove it from the mouth.

5.Perform ridge preservation where necessary
In many cases, your dentist will recommend that you replace the extracted tooth as soon as possible. Where this has been decided upon, your dentist may immediately follow a simple tooth extraction procedure with a ridge preservation via socket graft procedure. This consists of placing bone graft material in the newly emptied tooth socket in order to slow the bone reabsorption process. This can help to ensure that the bony ridge remains at the same height and width and will therefore be better able to support the replacement tooth. When this procedure does not occur immediately after simple tooth extraction, the bony ridge immediately begins to deteriorate, which can affect the success of future tooth replacement.

6.Minimize bleeding
While there are no major arteries in tooth sockets, simple tooth extraction can still result in bleeding. Your dentist will apply pressure to the tooth socket in order to minimize this bleeding.

7.Give you post-operative instructions
Depending upon your specific dental and medical situation, your dentist will give you post-operative instructions to help you recover smoothly and comfortably from simple tooth extraction. This is the best time to discuss with your dentist any questions or concerns you may have.

Benefits of Simple Tooth Extraction

Although dental extraction is shared, a few understand why it needs to be done. You will be losing a tooth in exchange for a lot of benefits. If your dentist recommends this procedure after a consultation, you should know that it’s the best option at the moment. Here are the possible reasons why dentists should rid of your teeth.

1.Relieve you from pain

Plenty of times, patients go to the dental office with a dental pain complaint. Usually, the causes are apparent, such as lodged objects or tooth decay. These simple issues are easily remedied. However, there are more underlying reasons for such discomfort. More often than not, you might have developed an infection that has already reached the tooth roots. If left untreated, the more it inflicts pain to the patient. If the severity of the dental problem is relatively high, removing the tooth is the only way to lift the discomfort.

2.Removing the problem itself

An infection in the tooth could rapidly spread making it harder to treat. When this happens, the problem becomes more complicated and will require more dental procedures. Not only that, but delaying the treatment will also prolong the patient’s discomfort. At this stage, the damage on the tooth is already serious and no longer reversible. Needless to say, the only remedy is to remove the tooth itself.

3.Saving the rest of your teeth

One big risk that dentists try to avoid is giving a chance for cavity or infection to spread on to the neighbouring teeth. Sadly, there are patients who take notice of this only when it’s already late. The disease has already contaminated the other teeth. This will involve more dental treatments and more complicated procedures. If the treatment has missed the right moment, the patient might suffer losing not just one or two teeth. That’s why tooth removal needs to be done to stop the spread of infection affecting the other teeth, possibly the surrounding tissues and bones as well.

4.Make way for a beautiful smile

In some cases, dentists would also suggest removing the tooth even if there’s no problem with it. Like in orthodontics, some patients have crooked teeth due to overcrowding. It means that there are more teeth that that patient’s mouth can take or the teeth are all too big to fit in the mouth. Naturally, the solution is to remove a tooth, like a molar extraction, so the other teeth can adjust to their proper places. This eventually results in a more beautiful smile.

It may seem scary, but the thought of losing your tooth shouldn’t hinder you from getting the right dental treatment. Talk to your London dentist to see how you both can work together to keep your smile.