What is a Simple Extraction?

The two kinds of dental extraction are simple extraction and surgical extraction. Dentists extract damaged teeth because they’re usually intensely painful, and they pose a risk for other complications like inflammation and infection. In a simple dental extraction, a dentist removes a tooth or teeth that are easily accessible and clearly visible. For more complicated or challenging situations, like when the affected tooth is severely damaged or hidden beneath the gums, it may be necessary to surgically extract the tooth or teeth.

Simple Extraction

When a tooth needs to be taken out, a simple extraction is always preferable. Simple extractions can be performed on teeth that can easily be seen and accessed, requiring only a local anesthetic for a painless in-office procedure. The dental team uses a selection of dental tools to elevate the tooth being extracted and firmly grasp its visible portion with forceps. By carefully manipulating the tooth with the dental elevator and forceps, using steady, measured pressure, the dentist can gently loosen the tooth and separate the periodontal ligament from the bone. Once this connection is broken, the tooth can be removed from the oral cavity.

Surgical Extraction

If a tooth hasn’t erupted through the gums, or if a damaged tooth has fractured beneath the gums, surgical extraction may be necessary. In most cases, surgical dental extractions are performed by oral surgeons, and patients are offered general anesthetic for any oral surgery procedure. To extract a tooth with surgical methods, an incision is first made into the tissues that surround the tooth, making it accessible for extraction. This may require drilling into the surrounding jawbone, or it may only involve the soft tissues and connective tissues, depending on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the procedure. Surgical extraction may also involve fragmenting the tooth into multiple pieces to allow extraction with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues.

Complications Associated with Dental Extractions

Any extraction comes with the risk of complications, and your dentist will carefully review your aftercare steps; follow them closely to reduce these risks. A common complication of extraction is dry socket, which is caused by prematurely losing the blood clot that helps the extraction site heal. Certain medications and medical conditions can also interfere with healing and should be discussed with your dentist while planning your procedure. When a tooth is extracted, the remaining teeth tend to migrate in the bone, causing misalignment of the teeth and disruption of the bite while also damaging the surrounding teeth. Because the bite begins to collapse when teeth are missing, and because of these other risks associated with missing teeth, dentists recommend replacing an extracted tooth as soon as possible, and you and your dentist can discuss the options for you to replace any teeth that need to be extracted. In many cases, addressing a damaged tooth earlier than later can mean the difference between a simple extraction and a later need for surgical extraction, so see your dentist right away if you have a damaged or compromised tooth that needs to be removed.

Simple Extraction Steps