Extraction and surgical procedures

Dental Extraction is a removal of a tooth from the mouth. Dentists perform this procedure for a wide variety of reasons.

Here are some of the reasons for tooth extractions:

  • Tooth decay – If the decay is severely advanced and the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth have been infected and are unsuitable for root canal treatment.
  • Impacted wisdom teeth – Sometimes, our mouths are simply not big enough to accommodate these teeth. The teeth become impacted (stuck), which can cause infection and pain.
  • Periodontal disease – Bacterial infection under the gum damages the tissue which connects the tooth to the gum; as the disease progresses, the bone anchoring the tooth to the jaw begins to dissolve, resulting in the tooth becoming loose.
  • Teeth damaged by trauma.
  • Having certain medical conditions that may require tooth extraction.

How we conduct extraction and surgical procedures at DP Dental

  • Your dentist will examine your tooth and explain the reasons why your tooth needs to be extracted, 
  • An x-ray will be taken to help plan the best way to remove the tooth and to see if an abscess is present.
  • If an abscess is present, your dentist will give you a course of antibiotics before extracting the tooth.
  • You must list every medication you consume even if you have purchased it over the counter, as some medications can complicate an extraction. 
  • Tell your dentist if you are anxious about the procedure as sedation is available. If your dentist does not carry out sedation, he will refer you to a practice that does.

How the extraction is carried out

There are two types of extraction:

Simple extraction

Dentists perform a simple extraction when the tooth can is easily seen in the mouth. Your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. When the anaesthetic has taken effect, and the area around the tooth is numb, the dentist will grasp the tooth using a pair of forceps. You will feel pressure but NO pain. The dentist will then move the forceps back and forth to loosen the tooth to extract the tooth.

These procedures are carried out on teeth which:
  • Cannot be seen in the mouth but are present below the gum.
  • Partially showing through the gum
  • Broken off at gum level.

Dentists perform a simple extraction when the tooth can is easily seen in the mouth. Your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. When the anaesthetic has taken effect, and the area around the tooth is numb, the dentist will grasp the tooth using a pair of forceps. You will feel pressure but NO pain. The dentist will then move the forceps back and forth to loosen the tooth to extract the tooth.

Things to note after an extraction:

I want to see a doctor about a surgical extraction