Tooth Extractions - Springfield, MO

We Only Perform Gentle Extractions

Dental extractions are performed for a variety of reasons, including tooth decay, injury, infection, and for orthodontic treatment. Extractions are a relatively common procedure in our dental office. The difficulty of the procedure varies depending on the case and the patient, however, the gentle nature of treatment remains the same. In addition, anesthesia is used to numb the area and prevent discomfort during the procedure.

“A lot of people are afraid of tooth extractions. The old-fashioned way that you see in the movies doesn’t happen here in this office.”
-Doctor Jody Vance

Types of Extractions

There are two forms of tooth extraction: Surgical and Simple. The type you need will depend on if the tooth has erupted out of the gum tissue or if it is still below the gumline. Teeth which have erupted are removed using the Simple technique. Those that remain below the gumline are removed Surgically.

Simple Extractions

Simple extractions are performed on teeth that can be seen in the mouth and that do not require sectioning the tooth or incising the gum tissue for removal. These extractions are performed on teeth that must be removed due to extensive decay or injury, or even orthodontic treatment, and are usually performed under a local anesthetic. During this procedure, the doctor will grasp the tooth with forceps and loosen it by moving the instrument back and forth until the supporting structures widen enough to allow the removal of the tooth.

Surgical extractions

Surgical extractions are performed on teeth that have broken off at the gum line, have not yet come in, or those that cannot be easily extracted. To remove the tooth, the doctor will have to cut and pull back the gums, which allows access to the area. This is necessary for visibility, so that we can see the tooth that needs to be removed. Surgical extractions are usually performed under local anesthesia but a general anesthesia is sometimes preferred, especially for wisdom teeth extractions.

Reasons Teeth Are Extracted:

Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Extractions are usually reserved only for cases in which no other treatment option will cure the infection or problem. Teeth may be removed because of:

Severe tooth decay or infection
Extra teeth that are blocking other teeth from growing in (supernumerary teeth)
Severe gum disease
Orthodontic treatment
Non-restorable teeth
Fractured teeth
Cosmetic reasons

Regardless of the reasons that a tooth must be pulled, extractions are usually reserved only for cases in which no other treatment option will cure the infection or problem.

Schedule Consultation