Extraction

  • Tooth extraction

Tooth extraction is one of the most basic dental procedures performed by dental professionals worldwide. As its name suggests, a tooth is extracted or removed by the dentist. Dr. Kalra and his team have performed many tooth extractions for our patients, young and adult. We will first assess your condition and see whether your tooth needs extraction or will benefit more from another dental procedure.

We can best determine if your tooth needs to be extracted or if it can be saved. A tooth that is broken but not badly decayed may be fixed with a crown, onlay or some other procedure before extraction is recommended. We at Kalra Dental Clinic feel it is best to go with the conservative approach to help you keep more of your natural teeth. We do our best to save a permanent tooth and keep it healthy for as long as possible. Tooth extraction is only done when a tooth is too far gone for other dental treatments to work.

In addition to tooth decay, there are other reasons why we may recommend a tooth extraction. A patient with over-crowded teeth may benefit from an extraction, and patients who will be receiving braces often have teeth extracted to make room for the necessary movement to occur. We may need to extract a tooth that prevents other teeth from growing in properly. Moreover, a tooth that causes major health issues, most notably an impacted wisdom tooth, will also need to be removed. Dr. Kalra and his team are well-trained to diagnose any dental situation and will recommend the best treatment solution for your dental concerns.

 

When A Tooth Can’t Be Fixed…

It needs to be removed. Your dentist may recommend extracting a tooth if:

  • Your tooth is too damaged by a fracture or deep cavity to repair.
  • You have a sizable infection that cannot be resolved by a root canal alone.
  • You have teeth that are blocking other teeth from coming in. These may be extra teeth or baby teeth that have not fallen out yet.
  • You are getting braces and need to get rid of a tooth that is crowding others.

Wisdom teeth, which typically come in during your teens or twenties, may need to be extracted if they are decayed, infected, or causing pain. They may get impacted—stuck underneath other teeth—which also requires extraction.

Types of Extraction

Most visible teeth can be removed with a simple extraction, where your dentist loosens the tooth, then removes it carefully with forceps. This procedure typically requires just a local anesthetic (an injection).

A surgical extraction may be needed if:

  • The tooth has broken off at the gum line.
  • The tooth hasn’t come in yet (wisdom teeth, for example)
  • The tooth has especially large or curved roots

During a surgical extraction, you may have a local anesthetic along with an IV or general anesthetic.

Both procedures are virtually painless. You might feel pressure or pulling, but no pain.

Tip: Don’t smoke on the day of surgery, as it can increase the chance of dry socket, a painful condition that occurs when a blood clot doesn’t form in the hole, breaks off, or breaks down too early.