Tooth Extraction Procedure

By admin on February 18, 2010

Tooth extraction is a fairly common procedure that needs to be done when a tooth is infected or causing alignment problems with other teeth to the point where it cannot be corrected in any other fashion. The procedure is very simple and is much like removing a baby tooth that is about to fall out. It is simply wiggled back and forth until the tooth is loose enough to be pulled.

Although the process works just like taking out a baby tooth for the tooth fairy, the problem is that permanent teeth are infused into the jawbone. They are obviously not as easy to remove. In order to remove a permanent tooth, a dentist must be consulted. The dentist will numb the area with an anesthetic so that the tooth can be tugged on a lot harder without pain. Typically they will use a set of special forceps to wiggle the tooth out of the mouth.

Although this is a very quick and easy process for front teeth that only have one root, removing a double rooted tooth such as a molar requires an extra step. Since there are two roots that oppose each other, wiggling the tooth out will not have much effect and could even cause damage to the jaw bone. In order to make this process a whole lot easier, the dentist will actually cut the tooth directly in half. The one double rooted tooth now becomes two single rooted teeth which makes for a much easier extraction.

Once the extraction is completed the dentist will stitch up the gum (if needed) and you will be sent home and wait for the gum to heal. Although this can be the end of the entire process for some people, leaving a gap where a tooth had previously been is not a good idea and can cause some problems. It can be hard to somewhat difficult chew with a missing tooth. Also, it is an area that some teeth can shift into due to strong impacts associated with chewing. In some instances a domino effect is observed and many teeth down the line can start growing crooked.

The problem can be corrected with either a bridge or a full-on implant. Some people who do not want another surgery will opt for a partial denture, but these can be very hard to get used to and require a great deal of care. Partial dentures should not be regarded as a permanent fix.