Here is an overview of what is the tooth extraction procedure and why they are performed

Tooth extraction is a dental procedure. As the name indicates it is performed to remove decayed, diseased, or misshapen teeth. Tooth extractions are most commonly performed for impacted or overcrowded teeth. Statistics reveal that more than 10 million tooth extractions are performed in America every year.

In this article, we will explore the different types of dental extractions, when and why they are performed, and the risks they carry.

Following are the most common reasons why dentists recommend tooth extraction surgery.

Dental Trauma

• Dental trauma may be caused due to facial injury, spurred by an accident, fall, or collision with another object. The force of the impact may damage or knock out the teeth, and damage bone, tissues, or ligaments. In such a case, the damaged teeth have to be pulled out to correct the bite.

Extreme Tooth Decay

• Extreme tooth decay occurs when the infection spreads into the tooth pulp. The risk of infection for adjoining teeth increases. In such cases, dentists first try to fix the teeth by performing a root canal surgery. However, if the teeth do not respond to this line of treatment, then tooth extraction surgery becomes a must.

Dental Crowding

• Dental crowding is a condition that is characterized by a lack of space for permanent teeth to grow inside the mouth. Overcrowding happens when the teeth are oversized and cannot fit in comfortably inside the mouth. In such a scenario, some teeth have to be pulled out to create space for remaining teeth, to improve the alignment of the teeth, or reduce the pain or discomfort associated with overcrowded teeth.

Impacted Teeth

• An impacted tooth is an orthodontic condition that is characterized by an abnormal pattern of tooth eruption from the gum. A tooth becomes impacted either when it does not have enough space to come out of the gum or when it erupts in the wrong direction or position.

This condition is most common for wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth can be quite painful and affect the chewing function of teeth. Impacted teeth are removed through tooth extraction.

Periodontal Disease

• When the infection spreads to gums and other structures such as the alveolus that surround the teeth, it is called periodontal disease. The alveolus is the socket in which the tooth is anchored. The spread of bacterial infection to the gums and alveolus, causes the teeth to become loose. To treat the infected gum, the tooth has to be removed through the tooth extraction process.

Now that we have understood the reasons for tooth extraction surgery, let us take a look at the different procedures used for performing this surgery.

Types of Dental Extractions

Depending upon the complexity of the situation, there are two types of dental extractions:

• Simple (for visible teeth)
• Surgical (for impacted teeth)

Simple Extraction

• For this type of extraction, the dentist uses an elevator to loosen the overcrowded tooth. It is then removed with the help of forceps. For performing this surgery, local anesthesia is administered to numb the area around the tooth.

Surgical Extraction

• This is a complicated surgery that is performed for impacted teeth. For this surgery, both local and intravenous anesthesia is applied. A surgical extraction is performed by making a small and precise cut into the gum where the impacted tooth is located. In more complicated cases, the bone around the tooth is also cut to extract the tooth.

For more information on tooth extraction surgery, contact Icon Dental Center. We are located in Everett and Seattle. Call us at 424-337-2400.