Surgery

Complex extraction

Extraction is the term used to describe the removal of a tooth. Extraction is said to be “complex” when the procedure involves altering the tissue and bone that support the tooth (e.g. some procedures require flapping, i.e. cutting through gum tissue and removing bone in order to remove the tooth). The dentist will evaluate the tooth or teeth to be extracted according to several parameters including:

• Their position;
• The space available to reach them (opening of the mouth);
• The health of the tissues and the presence of infection around them;
• The presence of carious lesions on the teeth to be treated or on adjacent teeth;
• The presence of restorations on the teeth to be treated or on adjacent teeth;
• The presence of cracks or fractures on the teeth to be treated or on adjacent teeth;
• The presence of gum disease (periodontal) around the teeth.

The dentist will then determine whether these teeth can be considered “simple” or “complex” extractions.