Removal of teeth from its socket in the jawbone under the influence of anaesthesia is called tooth extraction. It is a commonly performed dental procedure in the dental clinics.
Tooth extraction is usually performed by a general dentist or specialist called Oral Surgeons.
Oral Surgeons are trained dental specialists who perform surgical tooth removal. The general dentist can do simple extractions.
What are the types of Tooth Extraction?
The tooth is extracted in two ways: surgically and non-surgically. Let’s understand both.
Simple Extraction:
The teeth lie above the gumline. It can be removed easily by simply loosening it from the socket. Dental Instruments like elevators and forceps are used. The empty space after the tooth is removed is called a socket. The sockets heal by themselves within four to seven days and do not require stitches to close them.
Surgical Extraction:
Sometimes, teeth do not erupt entirely due to a lack of space in the jawbone. This is commonly seen in the last molars, also called wisdom teeth. The third molar teeth are cut into small pieces and then removed.
Sometimes, the jawbone is also cut to access deeply embedded teeth.
Surgical tooth extractions are performed under either local or general anaesthesia.
The tooth is split into two or three fragments.
Individual fragments are removed
Is Tooth extraction a painful procedure?
The tooth is extracted after numbing your teeth and jaws. Your dentist will administer pain-relieving drugs called anaesthesia.
Local Anaesthesia: The respective tooth and surrounding gums and bone are numb for painless experience. The injection is directly given at the site of tooth removal.
General Anaesthesia: It is a deep form of sedation where the patient is put into an unconscious state where they won’t feel pain while removing teeth. General anaesthesia is given through a mask or injection in the veins.
Your dentist shall decide the appropriate anaesthesia for you.
Local Anaesthesia
What is the cost of tooth extraction in Australia?
The cost of tooth extraction in Australia is lower than in Western countries.
- Simple Extraction:
Cost: AUD 150 – AUD 300 per tooth
- Surgical Extraction (including wisdom teeth):
Cost: AUD 300 – AUD 600 per tooth
- Complex Surgical Extraction:
Cost: AUD 600 – AUD 1,000 or more per tooth
Additional treatment costs such as 3D scans, X-rays, and other expenses may add to the treatment price.
Insurance-
What are the criteria for tooth extraction?
Extracting a tooth is considered the last resort when the tooth can’t be saved. Your dentist shall try preserving your natural teeth with root canal treatments or fillings. But when it is not possible, then they recommend removing it.
As we can see, if severely infected teeth are not responding to conventional treatments, you may have to extract it. But, in specific scenarios like radiation therapy, it is advised to remove even mild carious teeth. The reason is that radiation increases the probability of spreading infection and cavities in the mouth.
What is the procedure of Tooth extraction?
Before the Tooth Extraction
Your dentist will examine your mouth and take x-rays of the tooth. X-rays help determine health and its position in the bone.
They recommend a few medications prior to removing teeth. Medicines like antibiotics and painkillers if infection is seen.
They may advise you to pause a few medications before the procedure. Blood thinning medicine like aspirin is stopped a week before extraction. Aspirin interferes with blood clot formation.
Discuss your medications and health issues like blood pressure, diabetes, major surgeries, heart-related problems with your dentist.
Get physical fitness certificate from your physician.
Importance of Blood Clot formation
Blood clot helps initiate healing of the extraction site. If it gets dislodged, it may result in poor healing and give rise to a condition called Dry Socket.
Tooth Extraction Procedure
- On the day of the appointment, reach the clinic 15-20 minutes before your time.
- Once you become familiar with the procedure, your dentist will numb the affected tooth, surrounding gums, and bone. He shall give you local anesthesia to achieve the same.
- Once your tooth feels numb, the dentist shall use an elevator and forceps to loosen the teeth from their place.
- If your tooth is broken or below the gumline, he may cut your gums or trim your jaw bones to access the tooth.
- The tooth is then removed with forceps.
- The space is cleaned with disinfectant to remove infection and debris.
- A cotton gauze is placed to stop bleeding.
- If the socket is small, it heals and closes by itself. If the gap is large, the dentist may give stitches to close the gaps.
After the Tooth Extraction
- Keep the cotton gauze for at least 45 minutes until the bleeding stops.
- Once bleeding ceases, throw the cotton and have ice cream or cold milk.
- Avoid spitting for the next 24 hours, or it may dislodge the blood clot.
- The numbness will disappear within 1.5 hours; then, you can have a meal.
Dos after Extraction:
- Bite on cotton gauze for 30-45 minutes to stop bleeding.
- Apply Ice on the affected side of the face for the next 24 hours. Ice pack reduces swelling around the face.
- Stick to medications prescribed by your dentist.
- Eat soft food to avoid chewing from the extracted side.
- Maintain good oral hygiene for fast healing. Do not brush the affected site for the first 24 hours. Later, gentle cleansing followed by mouthwash rinses.
Don’ts After Extraction:
- Do not smoke or consume tobacco products, as it can irritate you.
- Avoid drinking soda-based beverages and alcohol.
- Do not brush rigorously, as it can disrupt the healing.
- Do not spit for the first 24 hours after tooth removal.
- Refrain from strenuous activities for a week.
Precautions to be taken after Tooth extraction.
The crucial phase after tooth extraction is healing. Your dentist shall give you instructions and prescribe medications to smoothen your recovery.
Here are some guidelines that help you recover faster:
- Do not eat food from the affected tooth side.
- Eat soft food like dal rice, pudding khichdi, yoghurt and meshed vegetables.
- Avoid having hot or cold food as it can cause sensitivity.
- Do not rinse or use a straw for the next 24 hours.
- Gently rinse your mouth after every meal to prevent infection and maintain good hygiene.
How to maintain oral hygiene after tooth removal?
- After 24 hours of extraction, rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
- Do not brush that area rigorously. Use soft-bristle brushes to clean the area.
- Use mild mouthwash prescribed by your dentist.
- Do not drink carbonated drinks or alcohol.
How can you replace the missing teeth?
Your dentist can offer you many replacements to fill the gaps with artificial teeth, such as dentures, dental implants, and tooth caps. It is advisable to replace all the teeth except the third molars.
Discuss with your dentists and get the best possible treatment.
Myths about Tooth Extraction
Everyone needs to remove their wisdom tooth.
In the past, dentists used to extract all the wisdom teeth because of a lack of space at the back of the mouth.
But today’s modern practice does not advise removing wisdom teeth like before. Until the tooth is causing ill effects to you and has properly erupted and adjusted in your mouth, removing it is not necessary.
Recovery from Tooth Extraction takes several months.
With the latest advancements and painless techniques, you can recover within three to four days. Simple tooth extraction is self-healing and causes no major discomfort.
Surgical extractions may take a bit longer, about a week or two, to heal. Recovery significantly depends upon a nutritious diet followed by bed rest.
Tooth removal may cause damage to nerves.
The probability is slim as your dentist shall study your tooth placement in the jaws using X-rays. Modern dental instruments are designed to cause minimal trauma to other surrounding structures of the tooth.
Summary
You may expect tooth extraction to be a scary experience, but understanding the procedure and following after-care can smoothen your journey. Always consult your dentist before undergoing extraction and plan the treatment.