What is tooth removal and extraction?

An extraction means to have a tooth removed, usually because of disease, trauma or crowding.

If you need an extraction, your dentist will first numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow. In most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Your mouth will slowly fill in the bone where the tooth root was through the formation of a blood clot.

For starters, tooth removal and tooth extraction are the same thing. Both terms mean your tooth is removed from its socket. There are two different ways your tooth can be extracted. One is called a simple extraction, which is performed by your dentist in his office. The other is called a surgical extraction and may require the expertise of an oral surgeon. Tooth extractions are necessary for a number of different reasons. If you have a broken or damaged tooth that cannot be repaired, it will need to be removed. Many people have to have their wisdom teeth extracted because there simply isn’t room for them in their mouth. Cancer patients and patients undergoing organ transplants may also undergo tooth extraction to lower their chances of developing an infection.