What is a Simple Extraction?
There are only two types of tooth extraction, a simple extraction, and a surgical extraction. A simple tooth extraction procedure is the removal of a tooth that is visible above the gumline and easily accessible, and a surgical tooth extraction requires an incision in your gums to gain access to the tooth that needs to be removed.
Simple Tooth Extraction
A simple tooth extraction is just the removal of a tooth that has completely erupted in your mouth. Your dentist quite often conducts this procedure in their dental office by using a local anesthetic to numb the immediate area to minimize any discomfort you could experience.
Specific dental instruments designed for this procedure are used to elevate the tooth and grasp the visible crown, such as an elevator and a forceps. The elevator is first used to loosen the tooth and then the forceps is used to grasp the tooth for its removal.
The tooth is wiggled back and forth with the elevator until the supporting periodontal ligament stretches enough to loosen the tooth from the bone socket so it can be removed. Now they apply a gentle, controlled pressure on the tooth with the dental forceps to extract the tooth.
Surgical Dental Extraction
Surgical dental extraction is the removal of a tooth that is not visible or easily accessible. This could be because it has not erupted through your gumline completely or it is fractured under the gumline.
With a surgical tooth extraction, it is necessary to make an incision into the gum tissue to gain access to the tooth for extraction. The soft tissue that covers the tooth might be elevated, or a drill might be needed to remove any jawbone that is obstructing the extraction procedure.
Comparing Simple and Surgical Extraction
Both types of dental extraction will reduce the overall risk of further oral complications, such as an infection, increased pain, and inflammation. Other minor complications that are of small risk possibility with both kinds of dental extractions include:
- A dry socket- From the premature loss of the blood clot that is crucial following the extraction.
- Delayed healing- May happen from any medications like bisphosphonates or corticosteroids, which should be temporarily stopped before your dental extraction to reduce the risk of complications.
- Osteoradionecrosis or secondary bone death- If you have experienced radiation treatment in the area of your head or neck.
- The movement of your remaining natural teeth- This will lead to misalignment of your teeth and an altered bite, which can then lead to damaging other healthy teeth.
- The loss of vertical dimension of occlusion- The collapse of your bite, which can lead to changes in the muscle contractions required to chew and other consequent issues such as dry lips.
Simple tooth extractions will always be preferred whenever possible because they are just so much easier to perform, avoiding all possible adverse effects from surgical tooth extractions. There is most often not a choice, a simple tooth extraction is performed when the tooth is accessible, and a surgical extraction is necessary if the tooth is not visible or accessible.