Why would a dentist recommend a tooth to be extracted?

At Walkerston Dental, a top concern of our dentist Walkerston is to preserve the dental health of all our patients, which is why we offer a diverse array of dental treatments to cover many common oral health issues.

One of the dental treatments that increases the anxiety levels of many patients is that of tooth extractions. While our dentist Walkerston will do all that is possible to save and protect the natural teeth of a patient, sometimes this is not possible. Tooth extraction is a fairly common procedure and with modern dental techniques, having a tooth extracted need not be as nerve-wracking as it was once reputed to be.

What to know about tooth extractions

Depending on the nature and severity of a tooth that is damaged or is in a state of decay, our friendly dentist Walkerston can repair the damage or stop the decay from progressing with suitable intervention measures.

Tooth extraction is a procedure that sees the skills of a dental practitioner remove a tooth from its natural socket. This procedure becomes necessary when any attempts to save a damaged tooth have proved fruitless. Some of these reasons include:

• Trauma or injury to the face resulting in extensive tooth damage.
• Tooth decay has reached deep into the inner parts of the tooth.
• To create space in the dental arch, prior to orthodontic treatment, so that teeth can develop properly.
• The removal of Wisdom teeth.
• When baby teeth obstruct the appearance of permanent teeth (when these would normally appear).

Before initiating a tooth extraction procedure, our dental practitioner will want to go over a patient’s complete medical and dental history, in addition to taking X-rays in order to gain a deeper insight into the condition of the affected tooth.

The process of a tooth extraction will depend on the condition of damage or decay. Often for a simple extraction procedure, a local anaesthetic will be applied, while for more complicated extractions, a general anaesthetic may be required for a surgical extraction.

Simple tooth extractions are typically performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth (above the gum line). First, the tooth and surrounding gum tissue is numbed, the tooth is then loosened with a special dedicated instrument before being completely removed from its placing with dental forceps.

If a simple extraction is not suitable (when a tooth is damaged at the gum line or one that has not yet cut its way above the gum line), a dental practitioner may consider surgical extraction. This type of extraction is considered more complex, as a dental practitioner will have to cut into the gum line in order to reach the tooth that needs to be removed.

Once a tooth has been removed, it is imperative that the patient keep the area clean, so as to avoid the area becoming infected. It is equally important to stringently follow all aftercare instructions provided by the dentist. To book a consultation with our dentist at Walkerston Dental clinic, please reach out to our helpful team at the front desk.

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.