Different Ways Teeth Can Be Extracted
by Harold Coleman
As young children, the thought of getting a tooth pulled often created scary images in the mind that involved the use of rusty pliers or tying a string to the tooth and a doorknob and then slamming the door shut. Thankfully, the actual process of extracting a tooth is not nearly as frightening as what is created in the imaginations of children. There are various ways a tooth can be extracted. These are ways teeth are extracted and why each method is performed.
Simple Extractions
A simple extraction is normally performed when a tooth is severely decayed and the dentist believes there is damage to the root of the tooth as well. This type of extraction is done by first using an injection of numbing medication in the area of the gums around or near the tooth that will be extracted. This medication helps the patient to not feel extreme pain when the tooth is being extracted. The dentist will use various dental tools to push the tooth deeper into the gum which causes the root of the tooth to work loose more easily and therefore the tooth is easier to pull. This procedure can be done in the dentist's office and takes very little time.
Surgical Extractions
Surgical tooth extractions are more complex and are usually required for more severe tooth decay or damage. For instance, if a person has several teeth that need to be extracted and there is substantial damage to the nerves and roots, surgical extraction might be the best option. If a person has a tooth that is impacted deep into the gums, a surgical procedure may be the only way to remove the tooth. This is often done with the patient completely under sedation because the gums need to be cut in order to reach and remove the roots of the damaged teeth. Once the extractions are complete, the gums are stitched back together with sutures that dissolve within several days. Depending on the severity of the person's condition after the surgery, he may need to spend the night in the hospital for observation to ensure his gums will heal properly before going home.
There is another method of tooth extraction that has been used in recent years and is becoming more popular. This is known as partial tooth extraction. In this process, the damaged or decayed tooth is removed, but if the root of the tooth is not damaged, it is left remaining in the jawbone. This method works especially well for those who plan on getting dental implants. If the roots and the jawbone remain intact, there is a much smoother area in which to implant the dental implants.
To learn more, reach out to a general dentistry clinic near you.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.