Tooth extraction (also referred to as exodontia) is a surgical procedure in which the dentist wiggles the tooth and removes it from its socket by grasping its visible portion with forceps. There can be several reasons why your Lawrenceville, GA dentist may recommend a tooth extraction, such as to remove severe tooth decay, or gum disease, prepare for orthodontic correction, or physical trauma to the teeth. If you know what is going to happen during the procedure, it can ease your anxiety and prepare you for anything that may come before, or after the extraction. In this blog post, we will discuss the indications and types of dental extractions
What are the Reasons for Dental Extraction?
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Severe Tooth Decay or Infection:
To the point where a tooth is so severely permeated by decay or infection, it can’t be saved. The best option is to extract that infected tooth before the infection goes any further.
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Periodontal (Gum) Disease:
If it is severe, gum disease can make your teeth recede and become loose. Intense cases may need to be extracted to keep a healthy mouth.
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Overcrowding:
teeth may be extracted to eliminate overcrowding and allow the balance of other teeth, often because orthodontic treatment (braces) is not an option.
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Impacted teeth:
Wisdom teeth, or the third molars of a person are frequently impacted. They may cause discomfort, infection, or crowd other teeth if they cannot emerge normally through the gums.
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Trauma:
Teeth become fractured or injured beyond repair in those instances when extraction is the only option.
What are the Types of Dental Extractions?
Simple Extraction
Description: This type of extraction is done to a tooth seen in the mouth. And it’s often easy to perform under local anesthesia.
How it is done: The dentist will use an instrument to loosen the tooth (elevator) and then forceps to remove the tooth.
Surgical Extraction
This procedure is more complex, but it is often the method of choice for teeth that are difficult to access — like impacted wisdom teeth or broken/cracked below the gum line. The oral surgeon or the dentist will do an incision in your gum thus making a space to access the tooth. It may require the removal of bone that surrounds the tooth, or cutting the tooth in sections to facilitate its removal.
It is important to know the different types of dental extractions if you plan to undergo one. More importantly, your dentist will recommend an extraction when there is no chance of saving the tooth.
