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WHEN ARE TOOTH EXTRACTIONS CONSIDERED ORAL SURGERY?

Medically reviewed by Saad Bassas, DDS — Board-Certified Prosthodontist · Diplomate, American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry

Although dentists always prefer to save damaged teeth, sometimes tooth extractions are unavoidable. If you need a tooth extracted, you probably look forward to saying goodbye to the pain it’s causing you. Certain tooth extractions are surgical rather than simple, so it’s important to have all the information when having oral surgery in Sartell, MN.

Surgical Tooth Extractions

When a dentist has to make a surgical incision in the gums, it’s considered a surgical tooth extraction, or oral surgery. This is sometimes necessary due to:

Irreparable damage to a tooth below the gum line, such as deep decay or fractures
Impacted wisdom teeth, which haven’t erupted normally

As you can see, oral surgery is for extracting teeth that have damage or decay below the gum line. The dentist needs to make an incision in the gum to extract the tooth or remove pieces of the tooth and will require stitches.

Although you may be nervous about having a tooth extracted, rest assured that you won’t feel pain and your dentist will make you as comfortable as possible. You can opt to have nitrous oxide in addition to anesthesia or sedation if needed.

Simple Tooth Extractions

When a tooth is visible above the gum line, a dentist can simply remove the tooth with forceps in a simple tooth extraction. The dentist can remove the tooth without making an incision for conditions such as overcrowding or damaged teeth that aren’t broken below the gum line.

Extracting teeth to preserve other teeth is a common and safe procedure. Whether your dentist needs to make an incision or not, your recovery won’t take longer than a few days to a week or so. You’ll need to follow your dentist’s instructions so that you can recover quickly.

It’s important to feel confident in your dentist’s knowledge and skills. Dr. Bassas has specialized training in IV sedation and oral surgery and is a leading expert in the field. If you’re concerned about a tooth or need oral surgery in Sartell, MN, contact our dental office today!

Medically reviewed by Saad Bassas, DDS

Dr. Saad Bassas is a board-certified prosthodontist and a Diplomate of both the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry — a dual distinction held by only a small number of dentists in the United States. He completed residency training in both oral surgery and prosthodontics, which qualifies him to surgically place and prosthetically restore dental implants himself rather than dividing that care between two providers. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Bassas performs hundreds of implant and bone-grafting procedures each year at i-Implant Dentistry in Roseville and Sartell, Minnesota, and is specially licensed to provide IV sedation. He has practiced dentistry in Minnesota since 2003.