If you are in need of dental surgery, we know how nervous you might be. However, when you come to the tooth extraction professionals in Waconia at Kruckman Family Dentistry, you can trust that you are in good hands. If you were wondering how dental surgery works, we are here to ease your concerns and walk you through the process. To be honest, tooth extraction always goes much more smoothly when the patient understands what is happening and cooperates to the best of their ability.

Patients who struggle with keeping still can experience a longer, difficult, and more drawn-out process. As long as you take the time to understand everything that is normal and abnormal in a tooth extraction procedure, you will be fully prepared to handle your extraction smoothly.

Numbing

The procedure begins by the dentist numbing your tooth and the gum and bone tissues surrounding it. This will be done by an injection. Some people report experiencing pain during this shot while others do not.

Extraction

Your tooth has a root that will not want to give when it comes to extraction. This root is encased in bone and is held in place by a ligament that binds the bone and your tooth together. In order to successfully remove the tooth, we will need to widen the socket and separate the root from its ligament. This is called “expanding,” which is done by rocking the tooth back and forth in its socket. Since the bone around your tooth’s root is spongy, the bone compresses and makes it easier for the socket to expand. After a little bit of work, your tooth will be loose and will come free!

Tools

Your Kruckman dentist will likely use tools such as extraction forceps and levers called “elevators” so help them pull out your tooth safely.

Elevators look a lot like a narrow screwdriver since one side has a handle and the other has a special blade or tip. The tip of the elevator it used to go in between the tooth and the ligament space. As the dentist moves the elevator around, the shape of the socket changes and the tooth is able to wiggle around much more freely. Sometimes, your dentist can remove your tooth with just the elevator. When this does not work, they will do as much as possible with the elevator and then switch to using the extraction forceps.

The extraction forceps look more like pliers, and they are used to grab ahold of your tooth. There are different sizes available, as your teeth come in different sizes. The dentist uses the forceps to grab your tooth and wiggle it back and forth to allow for more movement. We will also twist gently to more effectively tug the tooth away from the ligament holding it in place.

Our Next Blog

In our next blog, we will share with you how your tooth extraction might feel, as well as some potential outcomes and concerns that can arise during an extraction. If you have any questions about the procedure or feel like you may need to schedule dental surgery, please contact our offices today! We would be happy to schedule an appointment.