We believe that every tooth is precious and one of the main goals of modern dentistry will always be the prevention of tooth loss.
All possible measures should be taken to preserve and maintain your teeth because the loss of a single tooth can have a major impact upon
Severe Decay
Advanced periodontal disease
Infection or abscess
Orthodontic correction
Mal-positioned teeth
Fractured teeth or roots
Impacted teeth
Extracting teeth is made less difficult when the general principles of
oral surgery are understood and practiced.
If your dentist has recommended that a tooth be extracted, the
following information will help you get through the first
few days after your extraction. Should anything occur that
seems out of the normal, do not hesitate to call your
dentist.
Pain management must be addressed. Various pain management
techniques must be used including: medical management (pre-surgical
and post-surgical medications), regional nerve blocks,
and local nerve blocks.
The top (coronal) 1/3 of the alveolar bone surrounding the tooth has 2/3rds of the holding power.
Periodontal fibers are not designed to withstand slow, continuous torque.
Multi-rooted teeth are transformed into single-rooted teeth.
Gingival preservation is paramount.
Complete extraction of root confirmed by radiograph.
Closure of alveolus to maintain blood clot.
The first step is the taking of dental radiographs to assist in
extraction planning. This provides concrete evidence that an
extraction is the only procedure possible and makes the
action defensible in a court of law. The techniques of
extraction include surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Following a close study of your radiographs your dentist
will be in a position to advise you on which is the best
procedure for you.
Non - Surgical Extraction
This method will be suggested when the affected tooth is already loose.
Non-surgical extraction is performed by placing gentle
traction and rotation on the affected tooth with dental
forceps or needle holders. Excess tissue is removed as
carefully as possible so as to avoid fracture. Once clean,
the alveolus can be filled with osteoinductive materials,
impregnated resins, or the newer bone morphogenic materials.
After filling, the alveolus is sealed. Following the
procedure we will try and make you as comfortable as
possible by providing home care support including antibiotic
therapy, pain management, and dietary advice.
Surgical Extraction
Surgical extraction is performed on non-mobile teeth with normal or near
normal attachment levels. If your dentist has studied your
radiographs and concluded that extraction is necessary the
next step will be the creation of a surgical flap. Your
highly skilled oral surgeon will make a precise incision
providing room to remove the alveolar bone. Following this
the surgeon will isolate and gently elevate the roots of
your tooth. After sufficient bone removal and elevation, the
tooth root should become mobile. Small dental forceps or
needle holders are used to grasp the tooth crown and then
rotate the tooth on its long axis. Your surgeon will rotate
the tooth to the point of resistance for 20 to 30 seconds.
The rotation is then reversed and again held for 20 to 30
seconds. By using slow, continuous forces, the fibers are
torn and the tooth becomes loose enough for gentle traction
to remove it from its socket.
After the roots have been successfully removed, a post-extraction
radiograph will confirm that the operation has been
successful. The alveolus can then be treated and sealed in
the same way as practiced in the non-surgical extraction.
