The preservation of a tooth is always a top priority. It may, however, be necessary to extract a tooth when it has been damaged beyond repair. Surgical procedures performed by oral surgeons are generally comfortable and painless due to their extensive training. Let’s take a look at why a tooth extraction may require oral surgery.

Is it possible to save your teeth?

A tooth may need to be extracted as a result of trauma, extensive decay, disease, or crowding. If a tooth is infected and does not respond to root canal treatment or if it is not supported by sufficient bone due to periodontal disease, it may also need to be removed. It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be extracted when they are impacted or if they may cause problems in the future.

Surgical vs. simple extraction

Simple extractions are performed when a tooth is visible above the gum line and easily accessible. A tooth that is impacted or trapped in the jaw may need to be removed by removing gum tissue or bone. This is called a surgical extraction, and it may require stitches to allow the site to heal properly.

Are You in Need of a Surgical Extraction?

In most cases, your extraction will be either simple or surgical after we take an x-ray and examine the affected tooth. In some cases, however, a simple procedure can turn into a surgical one, such as when a tooth breaks off during an extraction. 

Surgical extractions are usually required for wisdom teeth that are impacted or have not fully erupted. There are other reasons why you might need a surgical procedure, such as a broken tooth or a root that is long and curved. Sometimes the bone around a tooth is too dense, requiring surgical extraction.

Extraction Aftercare

You will need to bite down on gauze to stop the bleeding after your oral surgery. An ice pack may be helpful if you experience swelling. To avoid dislodging the clot forming in your tooth socket, avoid spitting forcefully, drinking from a straw, or smoking for 48 hours. As a result, you may develop a painful condition called dry socket. You should follow the post-operative instructions provided by our oral surgeon. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

A gentle approach to tooth extraction

We always support conservative treatment options to save teeth, but if an extraction is necessary, our oral surgery team is prepared to assist you. Our goal is to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the procedure, so please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to do so. You can always count on us! Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.