Damaged, infected, or severely decaying teeth that cannot be repaired with other routine dental procedures such as root canals, fillings, or crowns may need to be completely removed. This procedure is professionally known as extraction, but it’s also commonly referred to as pulling a tooth.

Tooth extraction involves removing a tooth in its entirety from the socket in the jawbone. The procedure is very common and also very safe, and if you require one, you’re in great, caring hands at Spring Dental Arts.

About the Procedure

There are two kinds of dental extractions—simple and surgical. Both of these procedures should be painless for the patient, even under local anesthetic. The only sensation you can expect to feel is pressure.

Simple Extraction

In a simple extraction procedure, usually only local anesthetic is enough to numb the area that will be worked on so the patient cannot feel anything. The tooth will be gently loosened with a tool called an elevator, and then removed with forceps.

Surgical Extraction

A surgical extraction procedure is a bit more complex and sometimes requires general anesthesia to the patient to sleep. These extractions are necessary for teeth that have not yet broken through the gums or have broken at the gum line. An incision is made in the gums, and sometimes into the bone tissue to remove the tooth, which may be extracted in one piece or cut into smaller, more easily removable parts.

Post-Extraction Care

With any dental procedure, it’s important to follow the aftercare instructions given by your dentist.

A Few Basic Tips

• It’s common to experience some discomfort following an extraction, and this is usually manageable with a standard dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium—both available over the counter.
• Ice packs are also helpful for swelling and pain.
• Immediately after the procedure, you’ll have to bite down on some gauze to apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding, and it’s likely you will need to apply constant pressure for 24 hours.
• Eat easily swallowed food that doesn’t require much chewing, and use the opposite side of your mouth until your extraction site has healed.