Extractions

An extraction is a common dental procedure to remove a badly decayed or infected tooth that is beyond saving. It is often the quickest route to resolve pain.

Extractions tend to be the last case scenario once all other options have been exhausted. There is no going back once a tooth is extracted, so it is important to consider the alternatives to an extraction and to have a plan as to what to do with the space that is left behind.

Most tooth extractions are done by your dentist although more complex extractions may need to be referred to the local dental hospital for management.

In some instances, a tooth cannot be removed by a simple extraction and may need a surgical approach. Examples where a surgical extraction may be required are where a tooth is impacted (i.e. hasn’t fully come through the gum), or has broken off below the gum line. In these situations a small cut in the gum is needed to reflect the gum off the bit of the jaw bone that is holding the tooth in place. Once the bone is exposed, a small amount can be removed with a bur so that the tooth can be levered out of the socket. The gum is simply put back into place and secured with stitches to allow healing. The stitches may or may not be resorbable. Stitches that are not resorbable are usually removed after about a week. This is a simple, painless procedure that takes a few seconds to do.