Surgical Extraction

What is a surgical extraction?

Surgical Extraction is a dental procedure in which a tooth that is difficult to be pulled out with the normal dental forceps is extracted. A surgical extraction is a small surgery which requires making a small incision in the gum and in some cases removing a small amount of bone and dividing the tooth into sections to remove it safely.

An oral surgeon or a dentist who has extensive training in surgery may make this procedure under local anaesthesia or under sedation or general anaesthesia if it is more complex.

When is Surgery to Remove a Tooth Necessary?

A surgical extraction may be recommended if:

• It is impacted (trapped under the gum or bone) e.g. wisdom tooth.
• Tooth is broken off at or below the gum line.
• Roots are curved, long, or are not easily removed.
• The tooth is very decayed and cannot be held by extracting instruments.
• There is an excess of bone covering part of the tooth.
• Simple extraction has not been successful in the past.
• The removal of a tooth that is not easy to access is needed for orthodontic or restorative treatment.

Benefits of Surgical Extraction

• Safely removes impacted or difficult teeth.
• Helps prevent adjacent teeth and tissues being damaged.
• Relieves pain, infection and pressure.
• Allows for future orthodontic, implant or restorative procedures.
• Minimizes the possibility of reinfection of the teeth.

Surgical dental extraction procedure

The surgical dental extraction procedure is a step by step process:

The first examination and diagnosis is performed

The dentist or oral surgeon will first assess your oral health and take a medical history. They might be ordered for an X-ray or CBCT (3D scan) to evaluate:

• The location of the tooth.
• Shape and length of the roots.
• Surrounding bone
• The proximity to nerves and sinuses.
• Infected or cystic,
• This assessment is used to plan the safest method for extraction.

Administration of Anaesthesia

Local anaesthetic is injected around the tooth to completely numb the area. Depending on the complexity of the procedure and the patient's anxiety level, the dentist may also recommend:

• Oral sedation
• IV sedation
• General Anaesthetic (for large surgery)

Gum Incision

After the area is numb, the oral surgeon makes a small cut into the gum tissue to allow for access to the tooth and surrounding bone.

Remove portions of the bone

If the tooth is partially covered or entirely covered in bone, then a small amount of bone around the tooth is carefully sculpted away with specialized surgical instruments to gain access to the tooth.

Tooth Sectioning

Teeth that are large or are impacted are frequently split into smaller teeth. Each section can be taken out easier and will cause fewer traumas to the surrounding bone.

Tooth Removal

Dental elevators are used to gently loosen each section of the tooth and then the sections are removed with forceps. The dentist checks to make sure that all the pieces are well separated.

Cleaning of the Extraction Site

Once the tooth has been extracted, the tooth socket is cleaned well of the following:

• Bone fragments
• Infected tissue
• Debris
• Granulation tissue
• This area is then checked to see if it has the appropriate healing conditions.

Bone Smoothing (If Needed)

If sharp edges of bone are still present, the surgeon will take time to smoothen them out for comfort and to speed healing.

Placement of Stitches

The gums are pushed back into place and stitched. These may be:

• Dissolvable stitches that fade in 1-2 weeks.
• Stitches that do not dissolve and will need to be taken out at a later visit

Gauze Placement

Clean gauze is put over the extraction area. The patient is asked to gently bite down for 30-60 minutes, which will help in the formation of the blood clot and minimize bleeding.

Surgical extraction mtg

After the Procedure

Your dentist will give you specific instructions after your surgery, usually:

• Using prescribed pain relievers/antibiotics (if appropriate)
• Applying ice packs in the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling.
• Following a few days of soft feeds.
• Avoid smoking, drinking and straws.
• Rinsing extraction site with gentle water after first 24 hours.
• Going for follow up appointments to check healing

Recovery Timeline

• First 24 hours: Some blood will clot and mild bleeding and swelling are normal.
• Days 2-3: This is typically when swelling is at its highest and starts to get better.
• Days 3 – 7: Soft tissue begins to heal, and pain gradually subsides.
• 1-2 weeks: Gums are mostly healed, and stitches either fall away or are removed.
• Several weeks to months: Fracture will heal below gum line.

How much is a surgical extraction?

The price of a surgical tooth extraction depends upon the complexity of the treatment, the kind of tooth that is being taken out, the dentist's experience, geographic location and the need for sedation.

The costs of the surgical extraction are influenced by a number of factors:

• The position of the tooth: Wisdom teeth are usually more expensive to extract than other teeth.
• Difficulty of the extraction: The more complex the extraction, the higher the cost.
• Type of anaesthesia/sedation – local is generally included, IV sedation or general is an extra expense.
• Diagnostic imaging: X-rays or CBCT scans could be an additional cost of treatment.
• Surgeon's expertise: If you are getting a surgeon's expertise, then the more complex procedures may be more expensive and oral and maxillofacial surgeons may be more expensive than other types of surgeons.
• The location of the clinic: Charges are likely to be higher in big metropolises.
• Other treatments: The overall cost may be higher due to bone grafting, stitches, medications or follow-up visits.

Conclusion

A surgical extraction is a safe procedure and is an effective way to extract teeth that are not possible to remove with traditional methods such as some impacted wisdom teeth, severely damaged teeth and teeth with complicated root systems. Using the sophisticated techniques available to dentists and oral surgeons, teeth that are difficult to remove may be taken out without causing an excessive amount of trauma to the bone and gum tissue. While it may take a little longer to recover from the extraction than a regular extraction, all the following steps can help the healing process go smoothly: good oral hygiene, a soft diet and no smoking. When a tooth is causing pain, infection or crowding, it is important to seek help from a qualified dental professional to find out if the extraction is the most suitable treatment for you in order to regain your oral health.

Surgical extraction in India GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24-hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Help in choosing the Best clinics in India for Surgical extraction.
• Expert dentists with proven results in success. 
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food

FAQs

Does surgery to remove teeth hurt?

• No. It is done under local anaesthetic and sometimes sedation is provided to make the procedure more comfortable. The procedure may leave you with a bit of pain or swelling, which can typically be treated with pain medication prescribed by your doctor or obtained over the counter.

What can I do to help my body heal after surgery?

• The first few days, avoid hard foods and stick to soft options like yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, soup, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and applesauce. Try to avoid hard, crunchy, spicy and very hot foods until the extraction site has healed.

Will I need stitches after an extraction?

• Yes, the gum tissue is often closed by stitches. Some stitches fall off and others must be pulled out at a later appointment.

Is it OK to brush teeth following a surgical extraction?

• Yes, but don't brush directly over the extraction site for 24 hours. Then gently brush and follow your dentist's instructions for rinsing, oral hygiene.

How do I know if I have a dry socket?

• Dry socket typically will occur 2-4 days after the extraction and is characterized by a very sharp, throbbing pain that can spread to the ear and/or jaw and result in a bad taste or odor. If you think you may have a dry socket, please get to your dentist's office as soon as possible for treatment.