Tooth Extractions - What to Expect


Joshua Grooms, DDS, practices as a member of ABC Family Dentistry, PLLC, in Greeneville, Tennessee. As part of his practice, Joshua Grooms, DDS, regularly performs extractions and other treatment procedures.

The first step of a tooth extraction involves the dentist anesthetizing the area. Many extractions require only a local numbing agent, though more complex procedures require general anesthesia. Once the medication has taken effect, the dentist will being cutting away any gum or bone tissue that covers the tooth.

After the tooth is fully exposed, the dentist uses a tool known as a dental elevator to loosen the tooth from its place within the jaw bone, in much the same way a camper loosens a tent peg before pulling it from the ground. The elevator allows the dentist to push the tooth against the bone and thus compress the spongy bone tissue. When the dentist has created enough space to loosen the tooth, he or she uses extraction forceps to rock and twist the tooth. This ultimately separates the tooth from the bone and allows the dentist to draw the tooth out of the socket.

After the dentist has removed the tooth, he or she can remove infected material by scraping the socket's walls. The dentist can then re-compress the socket, smooth roughened bone edges, and irrigate the socket to remove loose fragments. Once the site is clean, the dentist will place any necessary stitches and ask the patient to bite on a piece of gauze, which begins the clotting and healing process.                            

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