How Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?
If the tooth is completely erupted, that is its crown is completely above the gum line, the tooth is taken out just like any other tooth. However, if the tooth is impacted then the tooth must be extracted surgically. The steps are as follows:- Anaesthesia
If you have chosen sedation or general anaesthesia then your dentist or surgeon will give you the sedation to start with, once you are completely numb and/or sedated, the operation will start. - Exposing the tooth
If the tooth is not easily visible, a small cut has to be made in the surrounding gum to expose the tooth. Sometimes bone has to be removed so that your surgeon can see the tooth.
The diagram above shows a drill being used to remove the surrounding bone exposing the tooth. - Sectioning the tooth
In order to make it easier to remove the tooth from a small confined space and to minimise the amount of bone removed, your surgeon may split the tooth into two by sectioning it with a drill.
The digram above shows a drill sectioning the tooth into two parts. -
Removing
A special instrument called an elevator is then used to lift the tooth fragments out of the socket. Sometimes a pair of pliers called forceps may have to be used but usually the elevator is more that adequate.
The diagram above shows an elevator being used to twist and lift the tooth fragments out of the socket.Note:Images from Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Peterson Ellis Hupp Tucker), published by Mosby © Copyright 1998.