Tooth Extractions from
our Edmonton Dental Clinic
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.
Purpose
If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired. In this case, the tooth needs to be extracted
Preparation
Your dentist will take an X-ray of the area to help plan the best way to remove the tooth. Be sure to provide your full medical and dental history and a list of all medicines you take. This should include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements.
If you are having wisdom teeth removed, you may have a panoramic X-ray. This X-ray takes a picture of all of your teeth at once.
Procedure
There are two types of extractions:
- A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. General dentists commonly do simple extractions. In a simple extraction, the dentist loosens the tooth with an instrument called an elevator. Then the dentist uses an instrument called a forceps to remove the tooth. Most simple extractions can be done using just an injection (a local anesthetic)
- A surgical extraction is a more complex procedure. It is used if a tooth may have broken off at the gum line or has not come into the mouth yet. Your dentist will make a small incision (cut) into your gum. Sometimes it’s necessary to remove some of the bone around the tooth or to cut the tooth in half in order to extract it. For a surgical extraction, you will receive a local anesthetic, and you may also have anesthesia through a vein (intravenous).
During a tooth extraction, you can expect to feel pressure, but no pain. If you feel any pain or pinching, tell your dentist.
