Atraumatic Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction is a minor surgical procedure where your dentist removes a tooth. An atraumatic tooth extraction is a technique designed to remove teeth using specialized tools in order to minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues and bone.

During a conventional tooth extraction, the dentist rocks the tooth back and forth horizontally, which can damage the tissues in the tooth socket, as well as the bone and surrounding structures. When performing an atraumatic tooth extraction, Dr. Sahi uses vertical force to lift the tooth up. This causes less damage and may lead to less post-extraction pain and bleeding.

Teeth might need to be extracted because of infection, disease or trauma. Extractions might also be indicated when teeth are impacted (commonly seen with wisdom teeth), the baby teeth are preventing the permanent teeth from erupting properly or before orthodontic treatment to make space in cases of crowding.

At Nest Dental, all of our Vancouver oral surgery procedures begin with an accurate diagnosis. Dr. Sonia Sahi will examine you and look over your x-rays. Depending on the situation, she might use cone beam CT imaging to see your mouth in three dimensions and get the full picture of your oral health. If an extraction is necessary, she’ll evaluate the position of the tooth roots and your bone conditions to map out the procedure. She’ll also talk with you about your health and medication history before going over your options for anesthesia.

Dr. Sahi usually performs tooth extractions with local anesthesia, which numbs your tooth, jawbone and gums. If you’re feeling anxious or having multiple teeth extracted, we also offer sedation, so you can relax during the procedure. Once you’re numb and/or sedated, Dr. Sahi will lift the tooth up vertically. She will then use a specialized tool to carefully detach the tooth from the fibers that hold it in place, before removing it from your mouth.

If you’ll be getting a dental implant, if needed, Dr. Sahi can place bone grafting material in the empty socket after your extraction. This will ensure you have adequate quality and quantity of bone to support the implant. When she finishes up, she may use small sutures to close the area.

No. Getting a tooth extracted doesn’t hurt. Dr. Sahi administers a local anesthetic and, if you choose, sedation as well. You’ll be numb and, while you might feel some pressure, you won’t feel any pain as the tooth is removed. Because an atraumatic extraction doesn’t use horizontal force, you may also experience less discomfort and bleeding after the procedure as compared to a conventional extraction.

Right after the extraction, Dr. Sahi will cover the socket with sterile gauze and have you bite down on the gauze for 10 to 20 minutes. This will control any bleeding.

Depending on a number of factors, including which tooth was extracted, discomfort may be mild to moderate once the anesthetic wears off and can last for a few days. Swelling is also normal. Taking a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen will help with both the discomfort and swelling.

If Dr. Sahi prescribed you antibiotics to prevent infection during the healing process, be sure to take them as directed. Holding ice packs on the outside of your jaw can be helpful, as can sticking with a soft foods diet. Avoid using a straw, smoking or vaping, so you don’t accidentally interfere with the clotting process. You’ll be pain-free and back to normal within a few days.