Tooth Extraction Melbourne

Extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. It is performed for a wide variety of reasons.

  • Tooth decay:  If the decay is severely advanced and the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth have been infected, they are unsuitable for root canal treatment. Impacted wisdom teeth – Sometimes, our mouths are not big enough to accommodate these teeth. The teeth become impacted (stuck), which can cause infection and pain.
  • Orthodontics (braces): Teeth can erupt in many different positions. If this happens, you may have to have teeth extracted so your other teeth can be brought into line.
  • Periodontal disease: A bacterial infection under the gum damages the tissue connecting the tooth to the gum; as the disease progresses, the bone anchoring the tooth to the jaw begins to dissolve, resulting in the tooth becoming loose.
  • Teeth that have been damaged by trauma.
  • Certain medical conditions may require teeth to be extracted.

Your dentist will examine your tooth and explain the reasons why it needs to be extracted. An x-ray will be taken to help plan the best way to remove the tooth and see if an abscess is present. If an abscess is present, your dentist will administer antibiotics before your tooth is extracted.

Your dentist will ask you about your medical history. You must list every medication you take, even if you have purchased it over the counter, as some medications can complicate an extraction.

Tell your dentist if you are anxious about the procedure. Sedation is available. If your dentist does not offer sedation, he will refer you to a practice that does.

How the extraction is carried out

There are two types of extraction.

Simple Extractions – A simple extraction is performed when:

  • The tooth is easily visible in the mouth.
  • The dentist administers a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the tooth.
  • Once the anaesthetic takes effect and the area is numb, the dentist grasps the tooth with forceps. You may feel pressure, but you should not feel any pain. The dentist moves the forceps back and forth to loosen the tooth and then extract it.

Surgical Extractions – This is carried out on teeth which:

  • They cannot be seen in the mouth but are present below the gum.
  • Partially showing through the gum.
  • It’s broken off at gum level.

A local anaesthetic will be administered to numb the area before a small incision is made in the gum. The gum is pulled back to expose the whole tooth or the root. The dentist then uses the same procedure as a simple extraction to remove the tooth; sometimes, the tooth or root may have to be cut into pieces to be removed. When the tooth has been removed, a swab will be placed at the extraction site, and you will be asked to bite on it until the bleeding has stopped and a blood clot has formed.

Extraction Aftercare

After the extraction, a blood clot will form in the socket where the tooth used to be; this is NOT to be disturbed by vigorous rinsing or poking the site with your tongue or finger, as it is a very important part of the healing process.

If the socket starts to bleed after you leave the dental practice, place a clean tissue or handkerchief over the extraction site and apply pressure by biting down; the bleeding will usually stop within a few minutes. Again, do not disturb the blood clot. If the bleeding persists, please contact your dentist for further advice.

Your mouth will still be numb for an hour or so after the local anaesthetic; please take care not to bite your cheek or tongue or burn your mouth when drinking hot liquids.

Avoid smoking and alcohol for 24 hours, as these can affect the healing process.