Why Do I Need a Surgical Extraction?
Surgical tooth extraction is a dental procedure in cases where simple or ‘standard’ extractions are not possible. However, since this procedure is different from a typical tooth removal, it may appear significantly more complex. Knowing why the dentist has determined that a surgical extraction is the best treatment plan for you may ease any anxiety you have and help you prepare for what’s to come.
Complex Tooth Position
The position of the tooth is one of the strongest factors affecting why you might need to have a tooth surgically removed. If your tooth that needs to be removed has not fully erupted or is impacted, the dentist will need to remove it from under the gum line or retrieve it from behind another tooth. The most common case of surgical extraction are wisdom teeth. They can grow into your mouth at odd angles or get caught under the gums. If the tooth is impacted, the dentist will not be able to remove the entire tooth without surgical incisions.
Broken or Fragile Teeth
If the tooth that needs to be removed is severely decayed, damaged or broken, then the dentist will need to use surgical extraction to safely remove the entire tooth. If the tooth is broken or cracked below the gum line, the tooth is weak and will not be able to be removed whole with the simple extraction tools. They require the tooth to be gripped and pulled out so basic extraction techniques may cause more damage when addressing a fragile tooth.
Curved or Large Roots
Surgical extraction is the best choice if the roots of the tooth are naturally crescent shaped, twisted, or too wide for the dentist to maneuver with simple extraction tools. As people grow into adults with permanent teeth, some teeth develop roots that are longer or are abnormal compared to most other teeth. If the roots extend into the jawbone too deep or are intertwined, then pulling with forceps may cause more damage to the gums and surrounding teeth.
Severe Tooth Infection
If a tooth is infected and the infection has spread to the surrounding bone and gum tissues, the dentist may need to use surgical techniques to contain the infection and remove it. Infected teeth and tissues will not be as strong structurally so a more delicate approach is necessary. Moreover, infected roots and tissue may include cysts or abscesses so those pockets can be explosive to healthy tissue if they are not removed with care.
Preventative Care
Wisdom tooth removal is a common example of preventative treatment. If they are still located below your gums and they have not started to cause problems for you, they often cause overcrowding once they start to erupt. They can even put pressure on surrounding teeth and their roots depending on their location. When the dentist reviews your x-rays, they will be able to determine the possibility of future issues based on their placement in your jaw in relation to the size of your jaw and the position of all your other teeth. The dentist will remove the wisdom teeth before they are an issue or cause other more serious issues.
Insufficient Access to the Tooth
Depending on the tooth that needs to be removed, it may be too far back in your mouth or they are positioned in a way that the dentist will not be able to remove it with simple extraction tools.