Are you too scared of the dentist? Whatever the reason, getting your tooth pulled or extracted can and does happen. Yes, tooth extraction is widespread. And you might have seen that shiny tray full of dental tools or dental instruments.
They all have a unique purpose in making sure your tooth removal procedure goes as smoothly as possible. Learn more below about how and when your dentist uses these tools during the tooth extraction procedure.
Surgical Extractions vs. Simple Extractions
There are 2 types of tooth extractions:
- Simple extraction
- Surgical extraction
Hopefully, you are getting a simple extraction. This procedure is relatively quick and only requires two dental tools to remove it. On the other hand, a surgical extraction is more lengthy and requires an oral surgeon to perform it.
This procedure occurs when the tooth extraction is from within the gums. There might be several reasons. It could be because of a broken tooth or one not erupting yet.
Basic Set-Up of Tooth Extraction Tools
You only need to relax. Your dental team is intimately familiar with the extraction tools. Probably because they are uniquely designed for procedures like your tooth extraction. Your safety and care are top of mind when used on you. A typical tooth extraction tray might include the following tools.
- Topical numbing agent
- Gauze and cotton rolls
- Anesthesia needle
- Syringe
- Anesthetic
- Mirror
- Explorer
- Small elevator and large elevator
- Periosteal elevator
- Surgical curette
- Forceps
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How the Tools Are Used
The procedure is a relatively simple one in dental terms. You should sit on the dental unit, relaxed. These are the steps that explain the step-by-step process of the typical tooth extraction.
- First, your specialist will apply a topical or local anesthetic.
- Next, they will separate your tooth using a periosteal elevator.
- They will expand the socket, and your tooth is separated using a small or large elevator.
- Dental forceps help remove the tooth.
- The remaining debris left behind is then removed from the socket.
- Next, your socket is compressed.
- Then, your dentist irrigates the socket and fills the bone edges.
- Lastly, your dentist will insert gauze into the extraction site.
- Your dentist will prescribe medication or antibiotics.
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Tools Used For Tooth Extraction
Your dentist will pull the damaged tooth from its socket in the jawbone for tooth extraction. Do you know that your tooth usually is firmly encased in the socket and held in place by a ligament? To remove the tooth, the doctor enlarges the socket. They follow this step just before separating the tooth from the ligament and finally out of the socket.
You should note that the bone that encases the tooth’s root is relatively spongy. Rocking your tooth back and forth against the socket walls causes the bone to compress. Eventually, your dentist will have enough space, and your dentist will separate the tooth from the ligament.
After the dentist gives the anesthesia, your pain transmitters become numb. You will not feel any pain at all. If you feel some pain, do not hesitate to tell your dentist. It means your tooth has not been adequately anesthetized.
Below are a few of the most commonly used tools for tooth extraction:
a) Extraction Forceps
Your dentist will use dental extraction forceps to grasp or apply pressure on the damaged tooth and remove it. These are plier-like instruments they will use to grasp and pull your teeth. You should know that your dentist will have several extraction forceps.
Each extraction forcep is tailored to teeth shapes and can direct pressure to teeth. An extraction forceps for pulling a molar differ from one used for removing an incisor.
Your dentist will also use the extraction forceps to rotate your tooth back and forth. This rotation is essential so that it can easily tear away from the ligament.
Extraction Forceps: How They Are Used
Your dentist will grasp a tooth with the forceps and then slowly yet firmly rock it side-to-side or back and forth as much as possible. They may use a bit of force as they do this but in a controlled and deliberate way.
Because the bone surrounding the tooth roots is compressible, this action might gradually expand the size of the tooth’s socket. As it does, the range of your dentist’s side-to-side motions will keep increasing.
In addition to this rocking motion, your dentist will rotate the tooth back and forth. The twisting action will help rip and tear the tooth away from the ligament that binds it in place.
b) Dental elevators
These resemble small screwdrivers. They are designed to go between your tooth and its surrounding bone. This dental tool makes the extraction process simpler.
Your dentist will force the elevator into this space. Then they will twist it around to process your tooth and rock it against the bone. It eases out the extraction process as the tooth is strongly placed with the gum bones. In this way, your dentist can expand the socket. Thus separating the tooth from its ligament.
What will you feel during tooth removal? The anesthetics conk out the nerve fibers that transmit pain. As a result, you do not feel the sensation of pressure or extraction.
Elevators are an essential dental tool that your dentist or oral surgeon will use for multiple purposes. Mobilizing teeth, removal of teeth, and even removal of the roots.
However, in most cases, your dentist will use it to loosen the strong teeth before applying forceps to extract the tooth out of the socket.
A dental elevator is a simple instrument consisting of three parts – a handle, shank, and a blade. The blade is the working end of the tool.
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Dental Elevator: How They Are Used
The dental elevator looks like an instrument; you might often mistake it for a narrow screwdriver. That is because, just like one, an elevator has a handle and then a specially designed tip portion or blade.
There are several ways your dentist might use the elevator to remove a tooth. One standard procedure is where the dentist will wedge the instrument’s tip into the ligament space between the tooth and its surrounding bone. The tooth gets disturbed as the dental elevator is forced into and slowly twisted around in this space.
Meaning the tooth is, in turn, rocked around and pressed against the walls of its socket. This process helps to both expand its shape. In the process, it also separates the tooth from its ligament.
As your dentist continues to work, the tooth gradually becomes more and more mobile. Finally, the downward motion of the elevator tends to lift the tooth up out of its socket.
In some cases, your dentist might be able to altogether remove the tooth just by using an elevator. If not, they will reach a point where they feel they can achieve it. Then they switch to using extraction forceps to complete the job.
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When to Use a Dental Elevator
- It is used in the first step of extraction.
- Luxate or loosen the teeth before the use of forceps to remove it.
- Luxate or remove the teeth which cannot be engaged or are usually hard to reach using extraction forceps. It often happens in the case of impacted teeth, crowded, or overlapping teeth.
- Remove fractured teeth which are subgingival and challenging to grip or reach by forceps.
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Step of Tooth Extraction Process
When to Call Your Dentist
Once the anesthesia wears off, you will typically feel some pain in the teeth. It is also normal to experience swelling within 24 hours, especially after the extraction.
However, some instances need the attention of your dentist. If you experience severe pain or bleeding more than four hours after the procedure, you should call your dentist. Also, alert your dentist if there are signs of infection. Infections such as chills and fever, or if you are vomiting or have severe nausea. The doctor should also know if there is any swelling, redness, or excessive discharge from the affected teeth.
What to Expect During the Tooth Extraction Procedure
During your procedure, there might be some slight pressure and discomfort. However, there should not be any pain due to the anesthetic application.
Your dentist, dental surgical assistant, or oral surgeon will use the appropriate dental tools required for the procedure. They will try to keep your tooth extraction area moist and clean throughout the procedure. After the procedure, you may need time to heal. It means you cannot clean the area or brush near the extraction.
Hopefully, your tooth extraction only happens in a lifetime. It is good to educate yourself on the dental tools and the procedure you will need. Routinely brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will help keep your oral health in shape.
It is important to note that good dentists extract teeth in the least invasive way possible. But it does not, however, mean it is fun. However, it is essential to note that you can avoid tooth extraction altogether if you properly observe oral hygiene. Moreover, visiting your dentist will keep your teeth and gums healthy, and you do not have to encounter these tooth extraction tools.
