Extractions are when a tooth/teeth are removed from a person’s mouth. As a practice, we always do this as a last resort if the tooth/teeth are not savable.
One of the most common causes that requires a tooth to be extracted, is when a tooth has suffered irreversible tooth decay or damage, to the extent that it will be in the best interest of the patients gums and other teeth to have the affected tooth out.
In every treatment we carry out for our patients, tooth extractions will always be the final resort. This is because your natural teeth are very precious, and even though restorations have come a very long way and are excellent at replacing teeth, nothing will ever be quite as good as your own teeth.
There are many factors that could lead to an extraction, these are the most common:
In some cases with traditional braces, you may require a tooth to be extracted, which will create room for your teeth to be straightened into their new position. However with modern braces though, we are able to overcome overcrowding without removing any teeth in most cases.
If you are suffering from any pain in your tooth, or it doesn’t look normal to you, we recommend that you call us to arrange an appointment so we can asses your tooth. We will always try to save your tooth and extractions will only ever be as a last resort.
Modern dental restorations are very effective at replacing missing teeth, in terms of functionality and aesthetics. But as a rule of thumb, it is always the desired result to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible – through regular and effective dental hygiene care (at home and professional).
Having an extraction can be an extremely stressful time for a patient. We carry out all our extractions under a local anesthetic which numbs the surrounding area of the tooth to be extracted (eliminating any pain). You will however feel movement and slight pressure around the soon to be extracted tooth, which can be quite uncomfortable for the patient. We will always work at a slow pace to ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible.
For very nervous patients, this treatment can sometime be too much for them. We offer IV sedation for all of our treatments which will put the patient at ease by inducing them into a completely relaxed state. The patient won’t be fully under, but the experience of the treatment will be a complete blur and will quickly pass by without the patient even knowing.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth at the end of the upper and lower gums. The medical name for the wisdom teeth is the third molars, and there are usually four of them. Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teens, or early twenties. The other 28 adult teeth are already in place by this time, so sometimes there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth in the mouth.
As they grow through, wisdom teeth are often obstructed by the other teeth and the lack of space, and can emerge at an angle. They may end up in the wrong place, or only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as impacted.
Impacted wisdom teeth There are different types of impacted wisdom teeth, depending on the way that the tooth has grown through. These are: mesial impaction – where the tooth grows at an angle facing towards the front of the mouth, vertical impaction – where the tooth grows straight down but gets stuck against the tooth next to it, horizontal impaction – where the tooth grows horizontally and pushes against the tooth next to it, and, distal impaction – where the wisdom tooth turns away from the tooth next to it and becomes lodged in that position.
Removing wisdom teeth Not all impacted wisdom teeth will need to be removed, but sometimes they can start to cause dental health problems.
If you're ready to take up treatment, get in touch.
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