Tooth Extraction
Saving natural teeth and preventive oral healthcare are our priorities; however, there are times when extracting a tooth becomes unavoidable for the following reasons:
- Severe tooth decay or gum disease
- Impacted wisdom tooth (no room to grow)
- Baby tooth is not falling out and prevents the growth of the adult tooth
- Not enough room for orthodontic treatment or a new denture
What are the benefits of tooth extraction?
- Pain relief
- Stops infection from spreading
- More room in the mouth
What are the steps of the extraction procedure?
- First, we examine the affected tooth and gum and take dental X-rays. This way, we can decide the best course of action and removal method, which can either be a simple or surgical extraction.
- During a simple extraction, the tooth can be seen, and under local anaesthetic, the dentist can pull it out using dental forceps after the tooth has been loosened.
- The dentist might need to make a small incision in the gum to access the teeth. This is called a surgical extraction, and it’s more common when the tooth has broken off the gumline or severely decayed.
Caring for your oral health after a tooth extraction
Soft food consumption and using the other side of your jaw will help with healing. Smoking and using straws can dislodge the blood clots and cause dry sockets, which can be extremely painful.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot is not formed in the hole where the tooth was, or it got dislodged, and the bone is exposed. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit us immediately to help ease pain and solve the issue.