1) DEFINITION

It is the procedure of gently removing a tooth from its socket

 

2) PROCEDURES

• The area is deeply anaesthetized (numbed).

• The tooth is gently pulled out of its socket using a specific instrument.

• The socket is then squeezed with fingers.

• No excessive forces will be done during extraction.

• Antibiotic therapy should be started and continued for 5-10 days following extraction.

 

3) RELATED TOPICS

A-DRY SOCKET

 

Definition

It is the failure or absence of blood clot leads to an exposed, severely hurting bare bone after extraction that may last from 3-10 days.

 

Normally

• In most patients, blood fills up the tooth socket of the hole left after a tooth extraction.

• The blood hardens forming a blood clot that protects the bone of the socket.

• This blood clot allows gum to grow over the top of the socket thus protecting the bone of the socket.

 

In dry socket cases

• The body fails to form the blood clot that closes the socket or the blood clot was formed but the patient removes it by forced spitting, continuous change of the dressing and or excessive gargling just after extraction.

 

Treatment of dry socket

Eugenol packs are inserted in the dry socket to protect the bare sensitive bone and decrease pain.

B-WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION

Wisdom tooth is the last tooth to erupt in the mouth, by the time of its eruption the room in the patient's mouth is usually taken by the other teeth and there is no enough space or room for the wisdom teeth to erupt completely.

 

Because of the limited space available, a wisdom tooth can grow sideways or may become buried under the gum (impacted wisdom tooth)

 

Complications

• It may trap food with subsequent decay of the wisdom tooth itself and/or the tooth in front of it.

• It may cause gum inflammation and infection with subsequent swelling, pain and bad odor.

• In severe cases facial swelling might occur to the extent that may prevents mouth opening.

• The pressure from the wisdom tooth trying to erupt may cause front teeth irregularities and overlaps.

• In cases of complete impactions it may develop a dental cyst which may grow, pushing the adjacent teeth, or rarely form a tumor.

 

Procedures

• The area is deeply anaesthetized (numbed).

• Incisions are made, lengthened and the gum tissues are gently pulled away from the bone.

• If needed, the wisdom tooth is then sectioned into pieces and the pieces are then removed.

• If any bone prevent the tooth removal this bone should be removed at first.

• Finally, sutures (stitches) are made so that the gum tissue lays back into place correctly.

• Antibiotic therapy should be started and continued for 5-10 days following extraction.

• Stitches are removed one week later

 

Procedure Complications

• Complications from wisdom teeth increase as the patient gets older because young patients are more healthy, with softer bone and better healing. This is a good reason for having a wisdom tooth extraction performed early in life.

• Pain and swelling of the surgical area.

• Bleeding may persist for 24 hours following the surgery.

• Dry socket might occur.

• Numbness of the tongue and/or lip either temporary or permanent.

 

Precautions

See MIDC precautions and medications following a surgery

 

MIDC Recommendation

MIDC recommends that patients remove wisdom teeth one side at a time. This allows a patient to chew on the other side, thus the patient heals quicker and feels better during the recovery period.