Tooth Extraction

Although permanent teeth can last a lifetime, there are various reasons as to why a tooth may need to be removed or extracted or why you will need to consider a Tooth extraction procedure:

  • A tooth may have become damaged or decayed.
  • If the tooth have become damaged or decayed, this may extend to the pulp where the nerves and blood vessels are found, leading to a severe infection.
  • You may have a crowded mouth and may need preparation for orthodontic treatment, or another tooth cannot break through the gum because there is not room in your mouth for it.
  • The risk of infection in a particular tooth may be enough of a reason to remove it.
  • An extraction may be necessary where gum disease had occurred. ā€˜Periodontal diseaseā€™ is an infection of the tissue and bones that surround and support the teeth.

Before removing a tooth, you will be given an injection of local anesthetic to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. General anesthetic is also available, and is preferred when extracting various teeth or a tooth is impacted. It may be possible to extract a tooth as a whole, but it may also be easier to take a tooth out in pieces.

Once a tooth has been extracted, a blood clot usually forms in the socket. It is encourages packing a gauze pad into the socket and getting you to bite down on it to help stop the bleeding. Usually, self-dissolving stitched will be placed to close the gum edges. In the event that the blood clot in the socket breaks loose (ā€˜dry socketā€™), we will place a special dressing over the socket for a few days, while a new clot forms.

This is a fairly common procedure usually in wisdom teeth extrications. See also our wisdom teeth extraction page