Dentists nowadays fight tooth and nail to save each tooth, aided by professional filling materials and precise root canal tools. However, extensive decay or a decayed filling together with root canal treatment can result in such significant loss of tooth structure that nothing remains of the tooth crown to salvage. In such cases, tooth preservation becomes impossible, and tooth extraction becomes unavoidable.
When is tooth extraction recommended?
A tooth causing symptoms may need to be removed if the dentist cannot save it anymore. In certain cases, bothersome symptoms can only be relieved this way, but there is no need for concern, as modern pain management and professional oral surgery ensure a quick and painless procedure.
3 main arguments for tooth extraction: Tooth extraction is completely painless! Our experienced oral surgeons employ methods that promote quick healing after extraction, with a low chance of complications. We replace removed teeth with effective and aesthetic dental restorations. Besides severe decay that irreparably damages the tooth, there are other reasons for tooth extraction, such as for aesthetic reasons, which may be necessary for improving smile appearance.
Examples include:
• Extraction of extra teeth that disrupt proper tooth alignment. • Removal of improperly positioned or impacted teeth, such as wisdom teeth. • Extraction of baby teeth that do not fall out naturally and hinder the eruption of permanent teeth. • Sometimes, tooth extraction is necessary to achieve straight teeth alignment through orthodontic treatment. In addition to the above, tooth extraction may be required to eliminate teeth that act as focal infections burdening the body. Focal infection assessment and extraction may be necessary, for instance, before dental prosthesis placement or when severe symptoms of a focal disease are experienced. Among all existing teeth, removing wisdom teeth may offer more advantages than the tooth itself.
Several reasons justify wisdom teeth removal:
• If the tooth's eruption is obstructed, causing discomfort and pressure on neighboring teeth. • As the last tooth in the row, it is challenging to maintain cleanliness, leading to rapid deterioration. • Limited mouth opening makes dental treatments impossible. • If the wisdom tooth remains impacted and does not participate in chewing. • Pockets often form around wisdom teeth due to the inaccessibility of the rear gum or tooth surfaces, leading to severe and painful inflammation.
What can we expect without tooth extraction?
Today, the importance of tooth extraction extends beyond mere relief from toothache or removing a decayed tooth. Before opting for tooth extraction, one must consider the long-term implications on dental health and aesthetics, and whether one is willing to undergo the procedure for desired aesthetic and oral hygiene goals.
• Untreatable teeth can easily infect neighboring teeth, necessitating additional unnecessary tooth extractions. • Teeth that obstruct proper alignment can hinder successful orthodontic treatment and make home dental care more challenging. Expect gum inflammation and rapid tooth decay, along with lingering aesthetic issues. • A difficult-to-clean wisdom tooth poses continuous problems for its owner and can easily become a focal infection. A focal infection results in unpleasant symptoms throughout the body, such as skin problems, hair loss, joint issues, and systemic complaints, etc.
What types of tooth extractions exist?
Typically, dentists face the least difficulty with front teeth. The greatest challenge involves molars and canines with the longest roots, whose removal can be complicated and require specialized care.
Types of tooth extractions:
• Simple • Complicated, • Surgical.
A common complication arises when a surgical extraction becomes necessary after initially attempting a non-surgical approach proves unsuccessful. For example, if a tooth breaks or fractures during the extraction process. Surgical intervention or tooth exposure is often necessary for improperly erupted or unerupted teeth, especially wisdom teeth. Our oral surgeons gently lift problematic teeth using specialized tools under sterile conditions.
Preparations for tooth extraction:
To minimize discomfort during tooth extraction, a thorough examination is essential beforehand.
The following are essential before tooth extraction:
• Before the procedure, a panoramic X-ray is necessary to plan the intervention. It's crucial to assess the relationship between the tooth to be extracted and neighboring teeth, the involvement of the sinus in upper teeth cases, and the location of the nerve canal in lower teeth cases. For more accurate imaging of impacted wisdom teeth, a 3D CT scan can provide additional details.
• A detailed health evaluation is required, especially regarding chronic illnesses, regularly used medications, blood-thinning medications, and radiation or chemotherapy treatments. A weakened immune system may lead to prolonged healing times.
Procedure for simple tooth extraction:
An injection of local anesthesia makes the procedure more tolerable, followed by the application of a sensitivity-reducing gel. The extraction itself is performed gently to minimize discomfort during the healing period. Throughout the treatment, your condition is closely monitored.
If necessary, you can communicate with us using hand signals, indicating if a short break is needed. Rushing through the procedure is not our goal; rather, we aim to minimize any discomfort for you.
Procedure for surgical tooth extractions:
For surgical tooth extraction, we ensure sterile conditions and use sterile instruments.
• During surgical removal, a flap is created in the gum to provide better visibility of the tooth and/or jawbone. • Modern surgical equipment and specialized drilling tools are used to gently remove the tooth from the jawbone, minimizing trauma to the bone. This approach is not only faster but also causes less trauma to the bone. • After stopping bleeding, the wound edges are professionally closed with sutures to promote faster and complication-free healing of the open bone wound. • Sutures are typically removed 7-10 days after the procedure.
