What’s the difference between a simple and a surgical extraction?

Dental extractions come in two basic types – simple and surgical. Which kind is right for you will depend on the situation we are looking to fix. Ideally, we prefer to save your natural teeth whenever possible. Unfortunately, this sometimes is not the appropriate solution and it becomes necessary to extract a tooth in order to protect the health of your other teeth. Some of the situations that may warrant an extraction include

Severely broken or fractured teeth

Severely decayed teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth

Crowding

Simple extractions are performed when the tooth is above the gum line and can be removed with a lifter and forceps. The process and healing time are both quick. This may be used for a decayed tooth or a tooth that is broken but is still above the gum line. It’s also used to remove teeth when the root has died or if your teeth are crowded and removal is necessary to facilitate orthodontic treatment. Surgical extractions, on the other hand, are more complicated. A surgical extraction requires an incision into the gum to get to the tooth. This type of extraction is necessary if your tooth has broken below the gum line or if it is multiple pieces and some are stuck beneath the gums. A surgical extraction is also necessary for impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or completely covered by gum tissue.