Is Oral Surgery Always Necessary to Extract a Tooth?

Tooth extraction is never a fun experience, but thanks to modern dentistry and technology, extractions can be comfortable and stress-free. Will you always need oral surgery? Or are there other options?

When Is a Tooth Extraction Needed?

Treatments like dental crowns and root canals can save teeth that are at risk, but sometimes, an extraction ends up being the best choice for your health. If you’re dealing with issues like a severe infection, crowding, or severe cracking, saving a tooth may not be possible. In some cases, like with wisdom teeth, removing teeth prevents problems from developing in the first place.

The Difference Between Simple Extractions & Surgical Extractions

Not all tooth extractions are complicated. To get a clear idea of what we’re working with, we’ll take an X-ray. If your tooth is clearly visible and there are no other concerns, we’ll perform what’s called a “simple extraction.” During simple extractions, we’ll first numb the surrounding area and loosen the tooth. Once it’s loose enough, we’ll pull it out. This is usually a fast procedure with a quick recovery time! It’s not considered oral surgery.

If we need to remove bone or cut into your gum tissue to remove your tooth, we’re performing a surgical extraction. Impacted wisdom teeth need surgery, as do teeth with long roots or teeth that have broken off at the gumline. With oral surgery, you’ll most likely get stitches. We’ll always provide aftercare instructions.

Tooth Extractions at Chandler Dental Center in San Antonio, Texas

Whether you need a simple extraction or oral surgery, we’re here to help! We believe your experience should be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. If you still have your wisdom teeth or a tooth that’s bothering you, extraction could be a treatment option. We won’t know until we see you, so please make an appointment or contact us with any questions!

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Categorised in: Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry, Tooth Extraction

This post was written by Chandler Dental Center