Extractions and Surgical Extractions

If teeth are abscessed, loose, have resorptive lesions, or too much bone loss and gingival regression to save, we are able to extract them. This helps to preserve the neighboring teeth that might otherwise be weakened by the presence of the diseased tooth. Depending on the situation, the diseased tooth may require a simple extraction by elevating it out, or a more complicated procedure like a crown amputation or surgical extraction. An x ray of the diseased tooth can help us to decide which type of extraction is needed.

A surgical extraction is needed when a diseased tooth cannot be successfully removed by a simple extraction. This may be because the tooth has only one diseased root, with one or more strong and healthy roots. Or the exposed surface of the tooth is weakened by disease and would fracture off if a simple extraction was attempted, leaving behind root fragments. A surgical extraction involves the creation of a gingival flap over the area of the tooth’s root, removal of the roots with a drill, possible placement of a bone grafting material in the defect left and closure of the extraction site by suturing the gingival flap in place.