Having a tooth extracted is a pretty common occurrence for most patients. Of course, the goal of restorative dentistry is to save as many natural teeth as possible but sometimes, extracting a tooth is the only way to make sure your smile stays healthy.
Reasons that you may need to have a tooth extracted include severe decay, gum disease, crowding, impacted teeth, or even trauma to a tooth. Sometimes, an extraction may be simple or it may require surgical techniques to be used to safely get the tooth out.
What is the difference between a simple and surgical extraction procedure?
Depending on where the tooth is in your mouth and what circumstances have caused it to need to be extracted, you may have a simple extraction or a surgical extraction. Both types of extractions most often use a local anesthetic to numb the area, allowing the patient to be comfortable during the procedure. Sometimes, general anesthesia (when you are put to sleep) is used during a surgical extraction such as removing impacted wisdom teeth.
When a simple extraction is being performed, the tooth is typically visible above the gum line and your dentist can simply loosen and remove the tooth from the socket. Teeth that may be removed using simple extraction techniques include those that are decayed, damaged, or overcrowded.
When a surgical extraction is required, the procedure is a bit more complex since most often the tooth is impacted below the gum line. A tooth can also be impacted within the jawbone like a wisdom tooth that never erupted. Since the tooth cannot easily be accessed, the doctor will need to make an incision through the gum tissue and possibly remove some bone tissue to access the tooth.
What is the recovery process after extraction?
After a simple extraction, patients typically experience side effects for only a couple of days. A simple extraction is much less invasive than with proper postoperative oral care, any negative side effects from a simple extraction will resolve within a few days.
The recovery process after a surgical extraction is a little more involved and often takes a bit longer. Most surgical extractions require stitches which may be dissolvable or need to be taken out. Stitches are usually removed after about a week, depending on the healing progress. The gum tissue after a surgical extraction is usually healed up within a couple of weeks but the bone can take up to four weeks to fully heal.
Are there any risks associated with tooth extraction?
As with any procedure, extractions come with a risk of complications such as infection, pain, nerve damage, or even damage to neighboring teeth. Simple extractions have a lower risk of complication because they are pretty straightforward.
If you find that you have to have a tooth extracted, your dentist will determine what type of extraction will yield the best results. Regardless of a simple or surgical extraction, it is crucial to follow the postoperative instructions to make sure that your extraction site heals quickly.
