Tooth Removal & Options
What is a Tooth Extraction and is it the only option?
Tooth extraction is the dental procedure for permanently removing a tooth from its socket in the jawbone.
Offering prevention-focused treatments is always our first priority. We will make every viable effort to help our patients keep their natural teeth, and extraction is always our last resort.
We offer a range of alternative procedures that we will implement wherever possible, including:
Dental fillings, Root Canal Therapy and Dental Crowns.
However, the sometimes these procedures aren’t feasible in every case. Sometimes tooth extraction is necessary.
Possible reasons why a tooth extraction may need to be necessary
-
Severe tooth decay. This is where the tooth is not able to be restored.
-
Impacted wisdom teeth.
-
Orthodontic treatment (e.g. braces). If a tooth has erupted abnormally, or there is inadequate space, a tooth may need to be extracted before the other teeth can be correctly aligned/ straightened.
-
Periodontal disease. Also called Periodontitis or gum disease, this is caused by bacterial infection that damages the connective tissues between teeth and gums, and results in bone loss to hold and support a tooth. If the infection spreads too far without intervention and maintenance, extraction becomes necessary.
-
Fractured or cracked teeth.
-
Advanced infection (where alternative treatment isn’t viable).
-
Major traumatic injury including broken teeth.
-
Vertical root fractures.
-
Failure of root canal therapy.
Rest assured that modern tooth extraction can be carried out
comfortably, quickly and efficiently. We will ensure you have a comfortable and pain-free procedure.
There are two types of Dental Extractions
Simple
A simple tooth extraction is performed when the tooth is able to be removed completely intact (in one piece). The process is quite straightforward and involves the use of dental instruments to remove the tooth. This procedure is generally well tolerated under local anaesthetic (to numb the affected area) where you will feel pressure, but not any pain.
Surgical
A surgical extraction is performed when the tooth is either too broken-down to remove whole, or otherwise cannot be removed intact. It is a more complex procedure which may include minor oral surgery.
It involves raising the gum to expose the whole tooth (and can require the careful removal of some surrounding bone), before the tooth is removed in fragments and the incision is closed with sutures. Whilst this procedure can also be performed pain-free under local anaesthetic.
Options to replace an extracted tooth
If a tooth has been lost it can be replaced by either a partial denture, a form of dental bridge work or a single tooth implant. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
A consultation with our highly qualified dental team will ensure that the best options are discussed with you.
