Surgical Tooth Extraction: A Guide to a Common Oral Surgery Procedure
A tooth extraction is a common dental procedure, but not all extractions are the same. When a tooth is not easily accessible or requires special techniques for removal, a dentist or oral surgeon will perform a surgical tooth extraction. This is a more complex procedure than a simple extraction, designed to safely remove teeth that are broken, impacted, or situated below the gum line.
What is a Surgical Tooth Extraction?
A surgical extraction involves a series of specialized steps to access and remove a tooth that cannot be pulled out with standard forceps. Unlike a simple extraction for a visible and intact tooth, a surgical procedure requires making a small incision in the gum and sometimes removing bone around the tooth or sectioning the tooth itself into pieces.
Common reasons for a surgical extraction include:
Impacted Teeth: Most commonly wisdom teeth (third molars) that are trapped in the jawbone or under the gums.
Severely Broken or Fractured Teeth: When a tooth breaks off at the gum line, leaving nothing for the dentist to grasp.
Teeth with Unusual or Curved Root Structures: Roots that are hooked or fused to the bone can make a simple extraction impossible.
Failed Root Canal Treatment: When a previously treated tooth develops a new infection and cannot be saved.
Dens in Dente: A rare malformation where a tooth forms within a tooth, making extraction complex.
Teeth Affected by Cysts or Tumors.
The Step-by-Step Surgical Procedure
Understanding the process can help alleviate anxiety. Here is what typically happens during a surgical extraction:
