Simple Extraction Steps
There are only two kinds of dental tooth extractions: a simple extraction and a surgical tooth extraction. A simple extraction is performed entirely above the gums and will not require any surgical techniques.
Understanding the Simple Tooth Extraction Process
When examining a tooth for damage from decay or injury, your dentist has learned to always take every measure available to preserve the natural tooth. Yet there are still situations where extracting a tooth is the healthier option, like the tooth being damaged beyond the point of repair, or if the tooth will not benefit from a root canal, or if there are crowding issues that cannot be corrected. There may also be a time when you choose a tooth extraction because it will be more affordable than other restoration options and will provide a better chance of a successful result.
With an exam, your dentist will decide if a simple tooth extraction is your best solution. They identify and confirm that your tooth has straight roots and has enough crown above the gumline to be both grasped and manipulated. They also review your health history and will ask you to refrain from using any blood thinning medications on the days before and after your extraction. When it is determined that a simple tooth extraction is appropriate, the simple extraction steps look like this:
- Administer an anesthetic- To ensure that your procedure is both simple and comfortable, they first administer a local anesthetic to the immediate area around the tooth. They may also apply a topical anesthetic gel before this injection to minimize discomfort from the injection itself.
- Release periodontal ligament fibers- The supporting periodontal ligament fibers in the bony socket around the tooth will be loosened, preparing the tooth for extraction.
- Loosen and elevate the tooth- A specific dental tool called an elevator is next used to loosen the tooth. This works quite well because the socket is pliable, and the elevator slightly enlarges the socket to allow removal of the tooth.
- Remove the tooth from the mouth- Using forceps, your dentist grasps the loosened tooth and simply pulls it out.
- Perform ridge preservation if necessary- In many cases, your dentist may suggest that you replace the extracted tooth. If this has been decided, your dentist immediately follows your simple tooth extraction with a procedure for a ridge preservation socket graft. This is placing bone graft material in the empty socket to stop the natural bone reabsorption process. This helps to ensure that the bony ridge will remain at its natural height and width to secure and support a replacement tooth. If this procedure is not performed after the simple tooth extraction, the bony ridge will atrophy and deteriorate, which will impact the success of a future tooth replacement.
- Minimize bleeding- There are no major arteries in the tooth socket, but a simple tooth extraction will still cause some minor bleeding. Light pressure will be applied to the area to minimize any bleeding.
- Post-operative instructions- Relative to your unique personal dental and medical condition, your dentist finishes by providing post-operative instructions to make sure you recover quickly and comfortably.