Tooth extraction is the process of removal of one or more teeth from the jawbone when it is found to cause discomfort to the patient. The tooth is pulled out from the jawbone with the help of elevators and forceps. This is a simple tooth extraction.

For complex issues, the surgical method is used for extraction. The procedure can go wrong if the dentist is not skilled or if there are other underlying factors that can cause complications. Therefore, it is important to approach a skilled dentist for tooth extraction.

The biggest advantage of having your tooth pulled is that the other teeth are prevented from getting infected and thus most of the teeth are preserved while only a single tooth is pulled out.

It begins with the administration of local anaesthesia. It is administered in the gumline area near the tooth which is to be extracted. Then the tooth is made to loosen from its socket with the help of specialized dental tools. The tooth will be lifted gently. If the tooth has decayed or is broken, small incisions are made in the gumline for easier extraction.

Once the tooth is completely removed, the bone socket and the gumline area are disinfected with the help of an antiseptic solution. To prevent deterioration of the jawbone, bone grafting may also be performed. The procedure is completed here.

The dentist will then stitch the incision or the wound with sutures. A sterile gauze is fastened on this wound to stop bleeding and promote healing. Light bleeding is expected from the wound within the first 24 hours after the procedure, but the patient doesn’t need to get alarmed.

Some side effects of this procedure may occur within the first few days of the procedure. You may experience some swelling and pain in the area. Your dentist will prescribe medications to manage this. Gum soreness is also expected after the procedure. The patient is supposed to avoid eating hard or crunchy foods and beverages that may be too hot or cold. Foods like yogurt, porridge, soft fruits, etc. are advised for the patient as these are soft and nutritious and will promote faster healing.

Let us try to understand what complications can arise during a tooth extraction procedure.

Unsuccessful anaesthesia administration

Before beginning the tooth extraction procedure, the patient is administered local anaesthesia to prevent feeling any pain or discomfort. The patient, however, remains awake during the procedure.

When this anaesthesia does not provide numbing effect to the region of administration, that may indicate there is a fault in administration. This could be administration from odd angles, speed of injecting the solution, or administration of anaesthesia to the wrong location.

Also, it is possible to penetrate the tissue more than required to administer the aesthetic. In such cases, the anaesthesia should be given by the intravenous (IV) route. Intra ligamental route is also suggested if there is any issue with direct injection of the anaesthesia into the site of operation.

Medical conditions

Tooth extraction is a complex procedure. If the patient is experiencing any other dental or medical conditions, it could certainly affect the procedure. This is the primary reason why the patient is asked about their detailed medical history.

If the patient is suffering from a chronic disease, say diabetes, the dentist will have to maintain certain precautions during performing the treatment. A diabetic patient takes longer to heal from surgical procedures like tooth extraction as opposed to a healthy individual.

Certain medications are also avoided in such cases where the patient is suffering from a chronic disease. This is done to prevent adverse reactions and allergies.

Patient cooperation

During complex procedures like teeth extraction, patient cooperation is expected. If the patient cannot provide accurate information about the medical condition of the teeth, there is a possibility the procedure may go wrong.

If the dentist is properly informed about any chronic or other disorders of the mouth or the whole body, the dentist will maintain precautions and will perform the procedure with utmost care.

Tooth extraction may damage nearby teeth

During extraction, the dentist will apply a little pressure to remove the teeth from their bone socket, this may damage nearby teeth. Also, it is possible the dentist may remove the wrong tooth if there is no proper examination of the teeth. However, such cases are very rare.

What is more common, is damage to the teeth adjacent to the affected one. These teeth may become fractured or lost during extraction. The risk of such damage increases if proper equipment is not used.

Tooth loss

During extraction, the tooth may be cut into small pieces so extraction becomes easier. However, if any of the pieces are left behind in the mouth, it can cause harm to the patient.

The little pieces may get lost in the mouth or could be stuck under other teeth. This causes pain and discomfort to the patient as well as difficulty in chewing and speaking. The problem becomes severe when the patient accidentally swallows the tooth and the airways are blocked.

Tooth extraction may damage nerves

Nerves are the most sensitive part of the tooth. If these are damaged, the tooth slowly starts rotting. During a tooth extraction, it is possible to damage the nerve, if the tooth is pulled very harshly or with extreme force.

Injections intended for administering anaesthesia can also hurt delicate nerves. Gentle administration is performed by the dentist and the patient is already informed about this so the procedure does not come as shock and the patient remains calm, hence keeping the nervous system regulated and the nerves protected from shock this way.

Tooth extraction may cause trauma to the tissue

Gum tissue is very delicate and can be easily damaged if the procedure is not performed with care. Permanent and deep wounds are also possible if the incision is not stitched back properly. Also, if the patient is suffering from chronic disease, healing of the tissue becomes very difficult. It is also possible for the gum tissue to be ripped apart if the forceps are used harshly.

However, all of these issues can be avoided if you visit a skilled an experienced dentist for tooth extraction. So if you are suffering from toothache or any dental problem, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your nearest experienced dentist.

The dental health of a person depends on the lifestyle followed by the person, his/her genetics, continued medication, trauma to the oral region and many other factors. Dental or oral health also depends on the condition of the teeth that are already present in the mouth. If there is even a single tooth that is infected or decayed, it can affect oral health adversely.

If you suspect that there is a problem with your teeth, consult a dentist immediately. After the consultation, your dentist will suggest tooth extraction if needed.

There are many situations where a tooth extraction will improve oral health. Teeth play an important role in the overall health of the person, but if a tooth is causing problems, then the dentist will recommend its removal. This will be followed by a tooth replacement procedure to support the oral and dental health of the person.

Tooth extraction promotes oral health

So, let’s now look at how tooth extraction improves oral health.

Ending infection

Infection in the teeth is quite common and if it is not checked, there are great chances of infection/decay spreading from one tooth to another.

Even with regular oral hygiene, the infection might go unnoticed and can lead to this spreading. When the infection spreads from one tooth to another, the oral health gets compromised. When consultation is done at this stage where there are chances of tooth infection spreading from one tooth to another, dentists will suggest a tooth extraction. This will help stop the infection and prevent the dental cavity from spreading.

Healthier teeth

If there is a misalignment in the teeth, it can result in overcrowding of teeth. Teeth get pushed against each other and they overlap one another. These spaces can easily trap food particles between them and create difficulty in cleaning. Due to less than perfect oral hygiene, other dental problems can also occur.

In situations like this, dentists will suggest tooth extraction to correct the alignment. The ‘extra tooth’ will be removed and the remaining teeth will be able to occupy their position in the mouth. Cleaning of the tooth will be easier and the overcrowding of teeth will not be an issue anymore. Tooth extraction will lead to a healthier and cleaner oral region.

End to pain caused by trauma

Trauma to the mouth often results in an oral region suffering immense pain. This can be due to the pressure suffered to the mouth or due to the tooth coming out loose due to the trauma suffered. When emergency dentists examine people who have suffered these conditions, they will suggest removing the tooth to remove the pain and save oral health. The tooth cannot be saved at this point and dentists will suggest removing the tooth and providing a replacement tooth to support the oral health of the person.

Gum diseases

The gum lining may get infected due to unchecked plaque or tartar formation in the teeth. When deposits of plaque remain in the tooth ends, the gum lining also gets affected. They get irritated and inflamed, due to the infection. When the infection is unchecked, it can even lead to the formation of pockets at the base of the tooth. This results in the infection progressing unchecked and the tooth coming out loose as they have lost the support from the infected gum lining. In these situations, along with treating the gum lining, the dentist will also recommend removing the tooth and replacing them so that the infection does not spread further.

Process of tooth extraction

Before the tooth extraction is conducted, the dentist will assess the oral/dental condition of the patient. X-rays will be used to understand the condition of the affected tooth and also the neighbouring areas. The extent of bone damage and interior cell damage will be assessed by the different examinations. Usually, the tooth extraction is conducted under anaesthesia. The dentist will give local anaesthesia to numb the area of tooth extraction. With the use of specialised tools, the damaged/infected tooth is removed.

After the tooth is removed, the tooth socket will be cleaned and disinfected. This will help in preventing further damage to the neighbouring teeth and the infection is contained with this procedure. Dentists will then proceed to place a gauze over the area and ask the patient to apply pressure to help in the clot formation. This will help to hasten the healing process at the site of the tooth extraction. There will be slight bleeding at the area of extraction but this will soon stop and healing will commence.

After tooth extractions, dentists will provide guidance on the do’s and don’ts for easier pain management and healing. They will give analgesics and antibiotics to treat the pain and infection. It is important to follow the guidance given by the dentists as otherwise proper recovery will not take place.

Many of us have grown up with jokes around wisdom teeth. We have heard things like with wisdom teeth you will get some wisdom making you a real adult. As we all know, wisdom teeth do not make us any smarter or bring wisdom. They are called wisdom teeth because they erupt after you have entered adulthood, between the ages of 17 to 21 years or your wisdom years. These teeth are right at the end of your teeth, at back. You get one wisdom tooth each at the end of both sides, upper and lower, 4 in all, which will make a complete set of 32 teeth in the mouth.

Wisdom teeth fall in the category of molars, the very tough and very wide teeth, that grow during the life span of human development, designed for eating raw meats, roots and vegetables. But as evolution took place, they may not be crucial for chewing purposes and as the time passed, they have become obsolete. Today, due to advances in dental care and hygiene, they may not be very purposeful since our molars are enough to care of our needs for chewing, and they may hinder the working of other teeth in the mouth. They may not appear at all in some adults, which is explained as our changed jawlines in people due to changes in diet.

Wisdom teeth are the ones which have maximum numbers of issues when they erupt and even after they have come through. Millions of wisdom teeth are extracted every year all over the world. The main cause being lesser space available on the gum for them to be accommodated.

When do dentists see no need to pull out wisdom teeth?

Most people who need to get wisdom teeth extracted fall between ages 16 to 25. Very few people after 30 face issues with wisdom teeth unless they are related to problems other than growth of wisdom teeth. Many dentists advise removal of wisdom teeth because of the potential problems they can create after they have erupted, including, cyst around the tooth, damage to nearby teeth and roots and bacterial growth due to unreachability for cleanliness. But not all dentists agree to taking out teeth which are healthy and do not cause any problems, or seem to be able to cause problems in near future. The see no need to pull out wisdom teeth if they are:

Fully erupted, and healthy, and are well positioned, have a correct bite with the opposite set of teeth, (upper or lower), and when you are able to reach them for brushing and flossing.

When is the need to get your wisdom teeth get extracted?

There are many reasons when you have to decide to get the wisdom teeth extracted with the consultation of your dentist of course. Since the wisdom teeth are wider than other molars, they require more space to emerge from the gums and also to settle on the available space along with other molars. Many wisdom teeth grow and come out partially, or grow horizontally under the jawline and emerge sideways on the gums.

There are signs that will indicate to you the need to get the wisdom teeth extracted, which include the following.

Discomfort at the back of your mouth

The first signal you get for the trouble with your wisdom tooth is the pain or sensitivity right at the back of your mouth which you will not be able to pinpoint at the exact location, but will eventually understand to be in the wisdom tooth. It may start to pain even while you are not doing anything. It may pain while eating or brushing and cleaning your teeth and progress to throbbing sensation. This is a clear indication to see your dentist about this and get it checked.

Painful jaws

When the wisdom teeth that are growing sideways, start pushing other teeth in the line, your jaws will start paining. This pain sometimes grows into agonised movement of your mouth. Opening your mouth brings on hurt. The soreness of mouth is a clear indication to see your dentist about the wisdom teeth extraction.

Swollen tissues around the wisdom tooth

Many people experience inflammation and redness in the gums around the wisdom tooth while it is erupting. It may pain while brushing, and the whole area feels sore.

Development of cysts in the mouth

After a while, when problems with the teeth are not solved, it allows cysts to grow in the mouth (which are fluid filled bags). Cysts can impact the roots of neighbouring teeth resulting in severe pain.

Sinus issues

Sinuses are empty spaces located near the nose and below the eyes which get affected by the problems in the upper jaw. When jaws are inflamed, the sinuses get cramped and may result in congestion, pressure or pain in the sinuses. Pain above the jaws and even next to the nose area is a sign of trouble in the teeth.

Mis alignment in the molars

When you find the neighbouring teeth getting shifted which will be painful, you will need to get the wisdom tooth extracted because it will push the teeth out of alignment which will create further damage.

Bad breadth

When the wisdom tooth is growing in any way that is different from normal, it will be difficult to clean the impacted area because of the pain or because you cannot reach there. This will lead to plaque. When plaque is not cleaned, it will end in growth of sulphur producing bacteria which gives a bad odour to your breadth, and a bad taste in your mouth.

Decay in the teeth and gums

Once there is bacteria in the mouth, it will result in creating cavities in the adjacent teeth.  Bacteria may enter the pockets which have been created by the cysts or by improperly placed wisdom tooth. These pockets will allow bacterial growth and end up in making the gums diseased.

Tooth are meant to last a lifetime, but sadly that is not the case always. Teeth are lost due to various reasons, some of them require that they are extracted to maintain oral health. Tooth decay, gum diseases, crooked teeth, ‘too many teeth’, improper alignment or trauma to the mouth can all result in tooth extraction. Tooth extraction is also required for children where the milk teeth give way to permanent teeth. Sometimes they do not fall off naturally, so they need to be pulled out. But this simple tooth extraction needs to be considered carefully if one is a diabetic.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a condition in which there is a high blood sugar level. In a healthy body, insulin is secreted and this hormone converts the extra sugar into glucose for storage in the body. This forms the source of energy for the body. But in the case of diabetes, the insulin secretion is less and therefore the body is not able to convert excess sugar into glucose. Or it can also be that the insulin generated in the body is not able to function well. The common types of diabetes are diabetes 1 and diabetes 2. The former is an autoimmune system issue in which the cells that make the insulin are destroyed. In the type 2 situation, the body becomes immune to the insulin function and the sugar level builds up in the body.

Having a large amount of sugar level is the blood is detrimental to health. This can affect adversely the working of nerves, kidneys and other major organs. Some of the common symptoms seen with diabetic patients are increase hunger and thirst, weight loss and fatigue. Another major symptom that is seen is the slow healing of wounds. High blood sugar level causes the stiffening of arteries and narrowing of blood vessels. When blood vessels are narrow, it is possible for only a small amount of blood flow. When wounds are formed, for their proper healing it is important to have good circulation of blood. As the circulation is impaired in diabetic patients, less oxygenated blood reaches the wound. Red blood cells and white blood cells which are important for passing nutrients and proper wound healing are not reaching the site of the wound. As a result wound healing slows down. This also results in a faster rate of infection setting in.

Tooth Extraction and Diabetes

The mouth harbours bacteria in huge numbers, they are present in all irrespective of being healthy or diseased. Bacteria act upon sugary substances and are attracted by the presence of sugar content. If the blood sugar level is high, bacteria will thrive in such a condition. Slowly working on the teeth enamel, they erode the protective covering and bring in infection to the pulp and possibly to the root of the teeth. The infection can also affect the gums and slowly they begin to lose the support they give to the teeth. Gum tissues become wasted as a result of bacterial action.  Diabetic people have more chances of tooth decay and gum diseases because of this situation. The high content of sugar in the blood also slows down any possible repair action that can be taken in the oral cavity. As a result the infection can spread.

Medical information

If tooth extraction is planned to preserve good oral health, then the information of being a diabetic must be shared with the dentist. This information will usually be checked during the session when medical history is taken of the patient. Dentists usually check the blood sugar level before extraction and they prefer the level to be 234mg/dl (13mmol/l). If the blood sugar level is higher then wounds formed after tooth extraction takes a longer time to heal. Blood clot formation is also delayed due to a high sugar level. This will result in bleeding from the point of procedure.

A safe procedure

Tooth extraction for diabetes patients is a safe procedure, the healing part takes time and that causes worry in many. But if the sugar level is in control then there is no harm in going for tooth extraction or any other dental procedures. If care is taken in following the medications for diabetes then there will no cause of worry. As with every other person, importance should be given to oral hygiene. More so if you are a diabetic as complications can set in if proper care is not taken.

Studies have shown that those who are on oral tablets have a healing time similar to that of non-diabetes. There is no need for any special precautions to be taken and there will not be any post-surgery complications. After care is also important after the dental procedure as this will help in proper healing. Food that is consumed should also be tracked. Diabetics should reduce the amount of sugary food or good high in carbohydrates, the same is the principle after tooth extraction. Keeping sure that the soft food that is consumed after surgery is low in sugar is very important. If the sugar level spikes up after surgery, then this will affect the healing process adversely. Make sure hard chewy food is not taken as this can put pressure on the part where surgery has been done and can split the suture. Discussing any doubts one has about the procedure with the dentist will be helpful.

Oral hygiene

Practicing good oral hygiene after healing is complete is also important. Brushing and flossing should be followed without any fail. More so if one is diabetic, as bacteria can multiply within minutes of attacking food debris in the mouth. This will attract more infections and dental problems. Going for regular dental consultations and also seeking the help of the dentist if one is not sure of the occasional toothache that comes in will help to keep at bay many dental complications.