Many people picture extraction as pulling hard with forceps. In reality it is a process with several gentle steps before the tooth comes out.
- A tooth is held by ligaments around the root, so extraction means loosening them gradually before lifting the tooth out.
- The steps include anaesthesia, separating the gum, loosening with a small elevator and using forceps with gentle rotation.
- Pulling too hard can break the tooth, leave roots behind and injure gum and bone.
- Instruments must be cleaned and sterilised following a proper process.
A tooth is held in the jaw bone by ligament fibres around the root. A proper extraction is not simply pulling hard but gradually loosening those fibres before the tooth is removed. The dentist uses different instruments at different stages.
The usual steps
- Local anaesthesia: so the area feels no pain during the procedure, see whether anaesthesia for extractions and fillings is safe.
- Separating the gum: a thin instrument frees the gum from the neck of the tooth.
- Loosening the tooth: a small elevator is placed between tooth and bone to relax the ligament.
- Using forceps: the forceps grip the tooth, and the dentist rotates and rocks it gently in a suitable direction before lifting it out.
- Cleaning the socket: the socket is checked, bleeding is controlled and aftercare is explained.
Why not just pull hard?
- Pulling hard can break the tooth and leave pieces of root behind.
- It can injure the gum and the bone around it.
- Teeth with several roots or curved roots need careful technique more than force, see whether wisdom tooth removal hurts.
Safety and sterility
Instruments used in extractions must be cleaned and sterilised following a proper process, see the sterile extraction process. You can ask the clinic how instruments are handled before an extraction.
After the extraction
Bite on the gauze, do not rinse hard and eat soft food, see how long bleeding lasts after an extraction and what to eat after a tooth extraction.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. You can walk in during opening hours, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first, so the dentist can examine you and advise before an extraction.
Frequently asked questions
Is extracting a tooth just pulling hard?
No. The dentist numbs the area, loosens the ligament around the root with small instruments and only then uses forceps to rotate gently and remove the tooth.
Why should a tooth not be pulled too hard?
Pulling hard can break the tooth, leave root pieces behind and injure the gum and bone around it.
Are extraction instruments sterilised?
They must be cleaned and sterilised following a proper process, and you can ask the clinic how instruments are handled.