An extraction is the removal of a tooth or teeth that are damaged beyond repair or never grew adequately in the first place. If our dentist recommends extracting one or more of your teeth, they will discuss your options and help you decide if it is correct. Extractions occur under local anesthesia and should not cause pain during the procedure. At Essence of Dentistry, the dentist will remove the affected tooth using forceps or gently rocking it back and forth until it pops out of the gum line. If you have multiple teeth removed at once, the dentist will use an elevator tool to loosen them from their sockets and then remove them. 

When Is Extraction Necessary?

Some patients need to have teeth extracted to restore their oral health. When a tooth is severely decayed or has an infection that has spread to the pulp of the tooth, the tooth cannot be restored and must be pulled. Likewise, wisdom teeth are often removed because they cannot emerge from the gums properly and become impacted. This can cause pain and other complications. Wisdom teeth can crowd other teeth and cause alignment issues if they aren’t removed. The tooth extraction procedure is performed under a local anesthetic and is comfortable for the patient.

Patients may also require tooth extraction if they have a traumatic injury that affects the teeth or are involved in some accident where the teeth are damaged. In these cases, the dentist will perform the procedure as soon as possible to reduce the damage to the teeth and prevent infection. Once the teeth have been repaired, the patient can schedule another appointment to replace their missing teeth. Tooth extractions are also performed as a part of routine dental care when a patient suffers from overcrowding in the mouth. 

The Dental Extractions Procedure

First, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area and prevent pain. Next, they will grasp the tooth with forceps and gently rock it back and forth until it is loose enough to pull out from the socket. Sometimes, a small amount of rocking will be enough to dislodge the tooth; in other cases, the dentist may need to apply gentle pressure with the forceps and wiggle the tooth from side to side until it slides out. Once the tooth is removed, the dentist may place a piece of gauze over the empty tooth socket and apply firm pressure to control any bleeding. They may provide you with a prescription or over-the-counter pain medication after your procedure.

If you’ve noticed symptoms of an impacted tooth, such as a toothache that won’t go away or facial swelling, contact Essence of Dentistry at 16300 Redmond Way #200, Redmond, WA 98052, or call (425) 885-0200. At your appointment, we will thoroughly examine whether an extraction is necessary and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.