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Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in general veterinary dentistry.
Reasons for removal of a tooth include:
 Retained baby teeth interfering with the normal eruption and position of the permanent teeth
 Abnormal location of a tooth, causing trauma to nearby teeth or soft tissue of the mouth
 Dental overcrowding predisposing the pet to periodontal disease
 Fractured teeth or tooth roots
 Impacted or not erupted teeth. These can form dangerous dentigerous cysts
 Periodontal disease where > 50% of the bone support of the tooth is lost
Extraction of a tooth is not accomplished by simply loosening the tooth and literally “pulling” it out of the
socket. Proper extraction of a tooth is an oral surgical procedure that aims at removing the entire
tooth and all of its roots with minimal trauma to the jaw bone and soft tissues of the mouth,
eliminating infection around the roots, and setting the stage for proper healing and minimal pain.
Below is an outline of the steps involved in a surgical extraction of a tooth, here a fang tooth in a dog:
Incisions are made in the
gum above the tooth to
create a flap of gum tissue
A nerve block is done of
the area to eliminate
post-surgical pain.
The gum flap is pulled
back, exposing the jaw
bone that covers the root
Jaw bone is removed around
the tooth root using a watercooled high speed drill
Any rough edges of the
jaw bone are smoothed
with the high speed
drill. If needed, bone
material can be placed
in the socket.
The gum flap is loosened
from the jaw bone with a
periosteal elevator tool
The tooth is dislodged
gently from the jaw using
a dental elevator
The gum flap is replaced
over the socket and
sutured closed to prevent
food from getting trapped
and to minimize
discomfort