We visit the dentists for various reasons but extractions may be necessary for tooth damage, teeth crowding, gum disease, impacted tooth, risk of infection, and trauma.  

Dental extractions involve the process of removing a tooth from its socket in the bone if there is severe decay, infection, or fractured teeth that cannot be repaired anymore, and also to make room for a tooth to erupt.  The procedure may just be a simple extraction using forceps and local anesthesia or it may be a more complex surgical extraction when teeth are broken below the gum line, impacted, or not fully erupted.   In doing so, there are varied dental extraction instruments that help dental professionals to successfully perform the job.

Dental Forceps.  For grasping and removing teeth, there are various forceps tailored to different teeth and their locations.  Both upper and lower teeth are grasped by the universal forceps while the specialized forceps handle specific teeth such as molars, premolars, or anterior teeth.  

Dental Elevators.  They are used to loosen the tooth from its socket before extraction.  Just like forceps, elevators also vary.  Straight elevators are ideal for the initial loosening of teeth, while the thin and sharp luxators are used to sever the periodontal ligament gently.  Furthermore, cryers or triangular elevators are utilized for removing roots.

Periotomes.  The instruments have fine blades to cut the periodontal ligament and facilitate atraumatic extractions.   This is to preserve bone structure for future implants.

Bone Rongeurs.  These instruments come into the picture to trim and shape the bone during surgical extractions.  Indeed, very useful when dealing with impacted teeth or removing sharp bone edges post-extraction.

Surgical Burs and Handpieces.  Precise cutting of bone or sectioning of teeth is what they do during surgical extractions.  

Scalpel and Blades.  What is used for making precise incisions in soft tissue during surgical extractions is a scalpel.  It handles interchangeable blades, such as #15 or #11.

Hemostats and Needle Holders.  To clamp blood vessels or remove small fragments of bone or tooth, the hemostats are used while the needle holders are essential for suturing incisions after surgical extractions.

Retractors.  Holding back soft tissues to improve visibility and access to the surgical site is the role of retractors. Minnesota retractors are for cheek or tongue while Weider retractors are used to keep the tongue out of the way during lower arch surgeries.

Suction Devices.  High-volume suction tips can quickly remove blood and debris.  On the other hand, surgical aspirators have slimmer tips for precise suctioning in deep or narrow surgical sites.

Suture Materials.  The incision must be closed to promote healing, so sutures must be used.  Absorbable sutures such as Vicryl can dissolve on their own while non-absorbable sutures must be removed at a follow-up visit.The dentist’s job of nurturing healthy smiles becomes easier to accomplish when equipped with the right tools that will make each dental procedure efficient, safe, and comfortable for the patient.  Dentists must not only possess these tools but also understand their specific applications and maintenance.