The idea of tooth extraction can sometimes be disconcerting, but tooth extraction may be a medical necessity for your long-term oral health. You may be a potential candidate if you have:

• Severely broken, cracked or damaged teeth
• Necrotic teeth (dead, or non-vital teeth)
• Teeth associated with advanced periodontal disease
• Extremely malpositioned or nonfunctional teeth

Other treatment alternatives should be explored before deciding on tooth extraction. During the consultation process, your surgeon will be able to determine if tooth extraction is the best option available for you.

There are two types of extractions – simple or surgical. Both techniques are performed under local anesthesia. In a simple extraction, your surgeon will grasp the tooth using forceps (surgical tweezers) and gently loosen it by moving the forceps back and forth until the tooth is ready to be pulled out.

During surgical extraction, your surgeon will create a flap around the target tooth through an incision made in the gum tissue. Surgical extraction may require removing portions of bone to free the tooth. Some teeth may need to be removed in sections. All incisions will be closed with dissolvable sutures.