The procedure to extract a tooth involves the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. This article provides information regarding the same.
There are many occasions where the dentists have to remove or extract the tooth. This procedure of tooth extraction is also known as dental extraction, where the tooth is removed from gums as a dental care measure. There are variable causes that lead to extraction of tooth.
Causes
The most common cause is tooth infection or tooth decay. It means that the enamel or some part of the tooth has been damaged as a result of bacterial decomposition. Sometimes, the enamel is also affected by the growth of fungus (caused by oral thrush) and erosion occurs due to this growth. The tooth starts paining when the eroding agents such as the bacteria and fungi reach the nerves that are located inside the enamel of the tooth.
The bacterial secretion alerts the nervous system, and thereby leads to toothache. The action of these microbes also creates a kind of cavity within the tooth. Acidic and basic substances that enter the mouth also tend to affect the nerves within the cavity. Sometimes these substances also react with each other, further worsening the pain and drastically deteriorating the dental health.
Some of the other causes include tooth fracture or insufficient space for the growth of other teeth – such as wisdom teeth or permanent teeth. The milk teeth, usually start falling off, to make way for permanent teeth when kids reach about 6 years of age. However, in many cases the milk teeth do not fall and stick to the tissues of the gum. The dentists remove such reluctant and stubborn milk teeth to prevent any deformed growth of the permanent teeth. Sometimes, dentists also resort to dental extraction as a preparatory measure for dental or orthodontic treatment or as a part of cosmetic dentistry.
Procedure
There are two types of tooth extraction procedures as follows:
Simple extraction
During this procedure, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic injection to the area from where the tooth is to be extracted. Two instruments namely, the elevator and the forceps are used in this method. The dentist loosens the tooth with a dental tool that is known as the elevator. A special fiber known as the periodontal fiber holds down your tooth in the cavity of the gums. During the loosening process, the fibers around the tooth break away and the tooth remains anchored by the root of the tooth.
The dentist then removes the tooth with the help of a pair of forceps, along with the root of the tooth. There would be a small amount of blood loss as arteries and veins around the root of the tooth are disrupted. Your mouth would start swelling and would remain so, for about 48 hours more. The recovery process takes around 7-10 days, after which the person is able to eat solid food.
Surgical extraction
This is a complex procedure that is performed in cases such as:
- Tooth broken off at the gum line
- Tooth fragments in the alveolar bone
- Wisdom tooth (third molar)
The oral surgeon makes a small incision into your gum using a hand chisel and mallet. Sometimes, some of the bone around the tooth is removed or the tooth is cut in half in order to extract it. The tooth is then extracted with the help of forceps and elevator. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia. People with medical conditions and young children may need general anesthesia. Although you may not experience any pain throughout the procedure, you might experience some amount of pressure.
As a precautionary measure the dentist would make you rest in the clinic for about 15-20 minutes. He would also insert a wad of cotton in the newly formed cavity in order to curb the bleeding, and would also prescribe a sedative or painkiller. Also, inform all your medical history and medications that you are undertaking to your dentist since anesthesia and pain killers interact with certain types of medicines.
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
