If your tooth is damaged or rotten and cannot be restored with a filling or crown, your dentist may recommend extraction as a final resort.

When a tooth can no longer be fixed, tooth extraction may be the best alternative.

What is tooth extraction?

There are two types of tooth extraction:

1. A simple extraction is when a tooth that is visible in your mouth is extracted. Simple extractions are commonly performed by a general dentist. Your dentist will numb the tooth and gum tissue and loosen the tooth with an elevator before removing it with dental forceps during a routine extraction.
2. A surgical extraction is a more involved operation for removing a tooth that has broken off at the gum line or has not yet entered the mouth. Surgical extractions are normally performed by oral surgeons, however they can also be done by regular dentists. The doctor will make a small incision (cut) into your gum and remove the underlying tooth during a surgical extraction.

Does my tooth need extraction?

Tooth extraction may be necessary for a variety of reasons. A tooth that is too seriously damaged to be restored due to trauma or tooth decay is a common reason.

Dentists may extract teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontic treatment. The purpose of orthodontia is to align your teeth properly, which may be difficult if your teeth are too large for your mouth. Similarly, if a tooth cannot break through the gum due to a lack of space in the mouth, your dentist may advise extracting it.

Even the danger of infection in a single tooth may be enough to pull the tooth if your immune system is impaired (for example, if you are taking chemotherapy or having an organ transplant).

If periodontal disease (infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth) has resulted in tooth loosening, the tooth or teeth may need to be extracted.

How do I prepare for tooth extraction?

Although tooth extractions are normally painless, they can introduce deadly bacteria into the bloodstream. Gum tissue might also become infected. You may need to take antibiotics before and after the extraction if you have a condition that puts you at high risk of acquiring a serious infection. Before having a tooth pulled, tell your dentist about your entire medical history and/or medical conditions, drugs and supplements you’re taking, and if you have any of the following:

• Artificial joints
• History of bacterial endocarditis
• Damaged heart valves
• Heart defects
• Compromised immune system

The tooth extraction process

Tooth extractions are performed by dentists and oral surgeons (dentists who have received additional training to undertake surgery). For simple extractions, your dentist will inject you with a local anaesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted. For surgical extractions, your dentist may use a strong general anaesthesia. This will keep you from feeling pain all over your body and allow you to sleep through the treatment.

If the tooth is impacted, the dentist will remove the gum and bone tissue covering it, then grip the tooth with forceps and gently rock it back and forth to free it from the jaw bone and ligaments holding it in place. A difficult-to-pull tooth may need to be removed in segments.

A blood clot generally forms in the tooth socket after the tooth is extracted. To assist stop the bleeding, the dentist will place a gauze pad in the socket and have you bite down on it. Occasionally, the dentist will use self-dissolving stitches to close the gum margins around the extraction site.

The blood clot in the tooth socket can sometimes break loose, exposing the socket’s bone. Dry socket syndrome is a painful condition. If this happens, your dentist will most likely cover the socket with a sedative dressing for a few days to protect it until a new clot forms.

After your tooth extraction

Your dentist will send you home to recuperate after an extraction. It usually takes a few days to recover. The following tips can help you avoid pain, lower the chance of infection, and speed up your recovery.

• Take pain relievers exactly as directed.
• Bite firmly but lightly on the gauze pad your dentist has placed in the tooth socket to stop bleeding and allow a clot to form. Before the gauze pads become bloody, change them. Alternatively, after the extraction, keep the pad in place for three to four hours.
• To reduce swelling, apply an ice bag to the affected area right after the treatment. Apply ice to the affected area for 10 minutes at a time.
• To avoid dislodging the clot that forms in the socket, refrain from rinsing or spitting for 24 hours following the extraction.
• Rinse your mouth with salt water
• For the first 24 hours, avoid drinking using a straw.
• Do not smoke, as this can slow down the healing process.
• The day after the extraction, eat soft meals like soup, pudding, yoghurt, or applesauce. As the extraction site heals, gradually add solid foods to your diet.
• Prop your head up using pillows if you’re lying down. It’s possible that lying flat will make the bleeding last longer.
• Continue brushing and flossing your teeth, as well as brushing your tongue, but avoid the extraction site.

How to avoid tooth extraction

Personal dental care cannot be underestimated. Ensure you are regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, to remove plaque build up. A healthy, soft food diet will also aid your oral health and prevent the possibility of broken teeth.

Maintain your oral health or get expert medical advice from Etwall Dental Practice. If you feel as though you may require a tooth extraction, please get in touch with us via phone on 01283 733391 or fill out our contact form and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.