Why Do I Need a Surgical Extraction?
You hope to keep your natural teeth for your lifetime, but sometimes circumstances happen that will prompt your dentist to suggest removing a tooth in the best interests of your overall dental health. Most of your teeth are easy to extract, but from time to time it can be more complicated, and require a more involved procedure. Here are a few reasons a surgical extraction may become necessary, and how your dentist determines which is best for you.
Why Can You Not Save a Tooth
The American Dental Association, or ADA, reports teeth are most often extracted because of trauma, disease, or overcrowding. When a tooth can no longer be repaired with a dental filling or a dental crown due to an accident or extensive decay, an extraction may indeed be your best choice. A tooth that does not have enough bone to support it because of periodontal disease is a candidate for extraction. An infected, abscessed tooth, which does not respond to a root canal treatment may also need to be taken out.
It is also not unusual for an orthodontist to recommend an extraction before an orthodontic treatment begins because of crowded teeth. Also, wisdom teeth are often extracted because of the awkward position they finish if they erupt behind your molars.
Simple Extractions versus Surgical Extractions
A simple extraction is a quite common dental procedure provided by most dental offices. When the damaged tooth is visible above your gum line and your dentist can remove it with an elevator and forceps, the procedure is a simple extraction. If a tooth has not erupted, your dentist will need to create an incision to access the tooth below the gum tissue. This is called a surgical extraction and requires sutures upon completion to close the site so that it will heal properly. Your dentist could also prescribe a specific pain medication following this procedure.
Reasons for Surgical Extractions
With an x-ray and an exam, your dentist will determine whether your extraction will be simple or surgical. There are also a few times when a simple extraction can turn into a surgical extraction. For example, if the tooth breaks off during the simple extraction, it may now need to be extracted in pieces.
Wisdom teeth quite often require a surgical extraction because they remain impacted, meaning they have not erupted through the gumline. This situation will require cutting through tissue and possibly even bone. Removing severely damaged teeth, stubborn root tips or teeth with long-curved roots are also examples of cases that need surgical extractions. There can also be times when the bone around a tooth has become quite dense, resulting in the need for a surgical extraction.
Post-Extraction Instructions
With surgical extractions, you most likely will have sutures at the extraction site. Whether your tooth extraction is simple or surgical, it is beneficial to closely follow your dentist’s instructions to have a healthy recovery and avoid any complications.
The surgical extraction of a tooth may sound a bit intimidating, but with the technology available today and anesthesia, you need not worry. When the extraction is finished, you and your dentist will discuss tooth replacement options to restore your natural functionality and your healthy smile.