Tooth extraction is a procedure where the dentist completely removes a tooth from the mouth where it is attached to the jaw bone. This could be for various reasons.
Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are a variety of reasons why you may need a tooth or teeth removed.
You may have a wisdom tooth that is impacted; a diseased tooth that can’t be saved; or overcrowded teeth that need to be removed so more room can be created to facilitate proper alignment during orthodontics.
Wisdom Teeth & Dento-alveolar Surgery
Dento-alveolar surgery involves that part of the jaws (the alveolus) that contains or has contained teeth. This surgery is either undertaken under general anaesthesia in a hospital, or in a clinic under local anaesthesia, with or without sedation. Dento-alveolar surgery may include the following conditions
- a) Surgical Removal of (Erupted) Teeth
The removal of teeth is generally straightforward. However, there are many reasons why the surgical removal of a tooth may be necessary, prompting referral to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Most teeth are removed because of extensive dental decay that destroys and weakens the remaining tooth crown thus requiring surgical removal. The pattern of root growth, for example a curved root, may increase the risk of complications in removal, if the tooth is not surgically removed.
- b) Removal of Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth have insufficient space to erupt into the mouth. The most common teeth to be impacted are the third molar teeth (‘wisdom teeth’) and canine (‘eye’) teeth. These teeth often require removal due to problems with pain and infection of the surrounding gum tissue and decay of adjacent teeth, necessitating referral to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for assessment and treatment.
- c) Exposure of Impacted Teeth (surgery to assist Orthodontic Treatment)
Some impacted teeth may be orthodontically positioned by creating space by the extraction of other teeth such as, deciduous (‘baby’) teeth or premolar teeth.Surgery may be undertaken to remove some of the overlying soft tissue and bone to allow an orthodontic appliance to be glued to the surface of the tooth allowing the orthodontist to move the tooth into its correct position.
What is the Process of Tooth Extraction?
It begins by giving anaesthesia. This is medication meant to numb the area.
We understand that you may be afraid of being injected. Worry not, you know why? We first apply a gel around the area we are going to inject and this numbs the area thus making the injection painless.
You may wonder why this anaesthesia gel is not used by itself without the need for an injection. This is because it’s anaesthesic potential is not as strong as the one being injected and so it is not possible to do the procedure on just the anaesthesia gel alone.
