Simple Extraction Steps
There are two kinds of dental tooth extractions, a simple tooth extraction and a surgical tooth extraction. A simple tooth extraction is accomplished completely above the gums and does not require any surgical techniques.
Understanding the Simple Tooth Extraction Process
When it comes to identifying tooth damage that is from injury or decay, your dentist has been taught to try to preserve your natural tooth. Yet there are some situations where extracting a tooth is actually the healthier option, like if the tooth is damaged beyond the point of repair, or if you are not a viable candidate for a root canal, or there are crowding issues that cannot be corrected. There may also be times when you choose a tooth extraction because it will be less costly than other restoration options and can have a higher chance of successful results.
Your dentist, with an exam, will determine if you are a viable candidate for a simple tooth extraction. They will confirm that the damaged tooth has straight roots and has enough crown above the gumline to be both grasped and manipulated. They will review your health history. Once it is decided that a simple tooth extraction is appropriate, your dentist will:
- Administer anesthetic- To ensure that your procedure is simple and comfortable, they will administer a local anesthetic to the area immediately around the tooth. They also apply a topical anesthetic gel prior to the injection to further minimize any discomfort from the injection itself.
- Release periodontal ligament fibers- The periodontal ligament fibers that support the tooth from the bony socket will be loosened for the tooth to be extracted.
- Loosen and elevate the tooth- A specific dental tool called an elevator is next used to loosen the tooth. This works well because the bony socket around the tooth is pliable, and the elevator will enlarge the socket slightly to allow the tooth to be removed.
- Remove the tooth from the mouth- Now using forceps, the dentist grasps the loosened tooth and remove it.
- Perform ridge preservation if necessary- In some situations, your dentist might recommend that you replace the extracted tooth. If this has been decided, your dentist may immediately follow your simple tooth extraction with ridge preservation through a socket graft procedure. This is the positioning of bone graft material in the empty tooth socket to reduce the bone reabsorption process. This helps to ensure that the bony ridge will remain the same height and width and will be able to support a replacement tooth. If this procedure does not immediately follow the simple tooth extraction, the bony ridge begins to atrophy and deteriorate, which will then affect the success of a future tooth replacement.
- Minimize bleeding- There are no major arteries in a tooth socket, but simple tooth extraction will still result in some bleeding. Pressure is applied to the area to minimize this bleeding.
- Post-operative instructions- Depending on your personal dental and medical condition, your dentist will provide post-operative instructions to help you recover quickly and comfortably.