Tooth Extractions Glossary
Curious about the terms you hear when discussing tooth extraction? At AZ Dental Office Laguna Hills, we are proud to offer comprehensive dental care along with the resources to help you better understand each step of your treatment. One helpful tool we provide is our glossary for tooth extractions in Laguna Hills, CA, which defines common terms related to extraction procedures, aftercare, and tooth replacement options so you can feel informed and confident about your treatment.
Types of Extractions
- Simple Extraction: Removal of a tooth that is visible above the gumline.
- Surgical Extraction: Removal of a tooth that is impacted, broken below the gumline, or requires an incision in the gums.
Reasons for Extraction
- Crowding: To create space for orthodontic treatment.
- Gum Disease: When gum disease has loosened a tooth or damaged the supporting bone.
- Impacted Tooth: When a tooth (often a wisdom tooth) fails to erupt properly.
- Infection: When an infection has spread to the tooth pulp or surrounding tissues.
- Severe Decay: When a tooth is too damaged to be repaired with a filling or crown.
- Trauma: When a tooth is broken or fractured beyond repair.
Procedures and Techniques
- Alveoplasty: Smoothing and recontouring the jawbone after an extraction.
- Anesthesia: Medication used to numb the area and prevent pain during the extraction.
- Elevation: Using a dental instrument to loosen the tooth before removal.
- Forceps: Instruments used to grasp and remove the tooth.
- Incision: A cut made in the gums to access a tooth that is not fully erupted.
- Sectioning: Dividing a tooth into smaller pieces for easier removal.
Post-Extraction Care
- Dry Socket: A painful condition that can occur if the blood clot at the extraction site is dislodged.
- Gauze: Used to control bleeding after the extraction.
- Ice Pack: Applied to the face to reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Pain Medication: Prescribed or over-the-counter medication to manage pain.
- Sutures (Stitches): Used to close the gums after a surgical extraction.
Related Terms
- Alveolar Bone: The bone that surrounds and supports the teeth.
- Edentulous: Lacking teeth.
- Hematoma: A collection of blood outside of a blood vessel.
- Trismus: Limited jaw opening or lockjaw.