When we take out teeth we do it in a specific, precise way that has been developed with years of training and experience. Without that training and experience and knowledge of dental anatomy, one might be tempted to just put a pair of pliers on a tooth and yank the thing out. During our time in dental school, we actually saw several cases of patients who did attempt to remove their own teeth, often with unhealthy consequences.
Pain-free, Carefully Done Extractions
Instead of brute force and a pair of pliers, dentists first use instruments called elevators to apply pressure to specific areas of the tooth. This causes back and forth movement that breaks the ligament that holds the root of the tooth to the bone and gums. Once the tooth is very loose, special forceps that are adapted to teeth are used to gently remove the tooth. All of this is done under profound local anesthesia, so while patients may feel some pressure, they don’t feel any pain.
Not every tooth comes out easy. Some teeth break into multiple pieces, and others are firmly held in place by thick walls of bone. In these cases, it may be necessary to move the gum tissue out of the way in order to better visualize the surgical area. After that, bone can be removed as necessary, or the tooth can be split into fragments and removed piece by piece.
Contact Our Rockville Dental Office
If you have any questions about extractions, please feel free to call us at (301) 963-0800, and we’ll be happy to tell you more.