A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Reasons for tooth extraction are: a cracked tooth from stress, untreated gum disease, a large cavity, an infected tooth, or extreme tooth wear from stress.
Dental extraction is the process of removing teeth by various methods. It is most commonly done in order to:
- Relieve pain for an abscessed tooth
- Realign teeth in the jaw after orthodontic work
- Prepare someone for dentures
- Remove teeth that are severely broken or damaged beyond repair
The removal of wisdom teeth may also be termed as dental extraction. Extraction is usually done with local anesthesia and tends to be quick and relatively painless. The process can be done with or without general anesthesia depending on what you are comfortable with. Sedation might be necessary if your teeth are severely damaged or infected.
A tooth extraction is a relatively common procedure, with 20 million performed each year in the U.S. alone. Occasionally, a tooth extraction may be considered if a tooth is damaged or diseased to the point that it cannot be saved. This often occurs when the protection of the tooth has been compromised due to trauma or growing up in a mouth with large spaces between teeth.
