If your tooth has been broken, your dentist may try to fix it with a crown, filling, or any other dental treatment. The tooth may need to be removed or extracted in case if there is too much damage for it to be repaired. The removal procedure is done by the dentist.
There are two main types of procedures involved in tooth extraction.
- A simple extraction – It is a type of extraction where the procedure is on a tooth which can be seen in the mouth. Using an instrument called the elevator, the dentist loosens the tooth and this is known as a simple extraction. The removal of the tooth is done by using forceps.
- A surgical extraction – This is mainly for advanced cases and is the second type of extraction commonly used by the dentists. It is actually a more complex procedure which is used only when the teeth have been broken off at the gum line or have not yet erupted in the mouth. The broken tooth or impacted wisdom tooth will be removed surgically by making a small incision into your gum.
In some cases, the tooth can be saved. But if the tooth has been broken or is loose, then it is necessary to carry out the extraction procedure. The other reasons to perform extraction are as follows:
- Some people may have extra teeth which block other teeth coming in.
- In some cases, the milk teeth don’t fall out in time for the permanent teeth to come in.
- For people who are getting braces, the orthodontist will sometimes require space to create room for the teeth that are being moved into position. In this situation also, tooth extraction is needed.
- The third molars or ‘wisdom teeth’ as they are commonly known are commonly extracted before or after they come in. They must be removed if they cause pain, or have become decayed. Wisdom teeth sometimes do not come in and often get stuck in the jaw, which can cause swelling, pain and will irritate the gum. The tooth must be removed in this case.