Tooth extraction is the most common dental intervention understood by patients. As the name suggest, the procedure involves the removal of a tooth or teeth by separating the tooth bone from its attachment to the periodontal tissues (commonly known as the gum tissue). However, the reasons behind this intervention are numerous and are not all known to the general public.

Causes:

• Advanced forms of Dental Caries and its sequelae whereby the tooth’s crown is destroyed resulting in the development of infections or periapical abscesses.
• Advanced periodontal diseases where the teeth cannot be salvaged by periodontal treatment..
• Teeth affected by pulp necrosis and periapical infections.
• Overretained deciduous teeth preventing the normal eruption of permanent ones.
• Correction of malocclusions which require the extraction of healthy teeth.

Procedure:

The forceps technique is used at the clinic for tooth extraction. Depending on the gravity, type of tooth to be extracted, and patient’s psychic reactions, local anaesthesia will be selected by the dental surgeon.

At times, extraction may become problematic when part of the root or tooth cannot be removed easily from the alveolus (removal of the wisdom tooth, infected teeth). A surgical intervention is practiced where the mandibular bone or maxillary bone are cut in order to remove the remaining fragment. Sutures are then used to hold flaps and tissues for facilitating wound healing.