Extracting a tooth is always a last resort for your dentist. However, if you find out that an extraction is needed, it’s always with your oral health in mind. No one likes to hear that they need a tooth extraction, but getting treatment means the difference between a path to a healthy smile and putting your remaining teeth at risk.
Today, your dentist will go over when tooth extractions in Jacksonville are needed and what types of extractions she performs. Hopefully, this will help you be more prepared before your visit.
A Simple Dental Extraction
These extractions are the most common since they involve teeth that are already visible within the mouth. They’re typically carried out by general dentists whenever a tooth has become so decayed that a root canal cannot save it, or because a dental injury occurred and the tooth has sustained too much damage to be saved.
To perform a simple dental extraction, your dentist in Jacksonville uses the following dental tools: an elevator and forceps. The elevator is used to loosen the tooth by rocking it back and forth, while the forceps are used to grab and remove the tooth from the periodontal ligament holding it in place.
A Surgical Dental Extraction
A surgical dental extraction is typically more complex because it’s needed when a tooth is not as easily visible or accessible. Outside of wisdom tooth extractions, this sort of extraction does not happen often. To gain access to the tooth, your dentist needs to perform a surgical incision into the connective tissue surrounding it. To do this, the surrounding tissue may be elevated or nearby jawbone may be drilled into to reach the tooth in question. Thankfully, patients are given a healthy amount of anesthetic during the procedure, so they won’t feel much from the dentist.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Your wisdom teeth, also known as “third molars” are the last teeth to erupt. Since these teeth were intended to replace our first and second molars, which was often the case for our distant ancestors, there usually isn’t enough room to accommodate them. Depending on how they erupt, a simple or surgical extraction may be needed.
If your dentist knows that a wisdom tooth is erupting and it becomes impacted, a surgical extraction will be needed. Impaction occurs when an existing tooth blocks another tooth from erupting, forcing it underneath the gumline. However, if your wisdom tooth erupts fully, meaning it’s fully visible and accessible by your dentist, a simple extraction will be used instead.
Removing harmful wisdom teeth is key to avoiding oral complications, including:
- Overcrowding
- Infections
- Cyst formations
- Damage to nearby teeth
- Impacted teeth
When your dentist says you need an extraction, it’s always for your best oral health and always a last resort. To learn more about tooth extractions in Jacksonville, schedule an appointment with your dentist today!
About the Author
Dr. Rose Johnson earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Denver before moving to Jacksonville to open her practice. She guarantees that you’ll always be treated comfortably and compassionately, regardless of the treatment you need. To learn more about her practice, contact her at (904) 645-6457 or visit her website.