Removal of teeth (so-called tooth extraction) can be necessary for various reasons and is one of the most common procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Thanks to modern technology, today it is possible to remove teeth in a particularly gentle, safe and minimally invasive way.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, doctor and dentist Dr. med. Thomas Franke carries out the tooth removal after a detailed analysis in the pleasant atmosphere of our practice in Berlin Charlottenburg. Years of experience in this field have enabled him to develop a treatment concept that takes a holistic view of our patients and ensures a rapid recovery and restoration.
When is a tooth removal necessary?
The removal of a tooth may be necessary for various reasons. Severe damage to the teeth, for example caused by a pronounced caries or damage to the root of the tooth, can often unfortunately make it unavoidable that a tooth has to be removed. However, teeth that are not fully erupted, chronic inflammation or teeth that are too loose, caused for example by bone resorption, can also result in tooth extraction. Even if there is not enough space in the jaw, the removal of one or more teeth may be advisable for orthodontic reasons.
Patients are often referred by their family dentist to oral and maxillofacial surgeons for further treatment as they are able to remove the affected tooth including the root. This usually makes it possible to preserve the bony tooth socket for later dental implantation. In this context one speaks of the so-called “socket preservation”.
What is the exact procedure for tooth removal?
As a rule, a local anaesthetic is sufficient for outpatient surgery. You will not feel any pain during the procedure with this local anaesthetic. After careful removal of the tooth, root and tooth remains, a suture seals the opening in the gum.
A comprehensive diagnosis is carried out in advance, in which possible previous illnesses, the general condition and special circumstances, such as an existing pregnancy of the patient, are clarified in a detailed conversation with Dr. med. Thomas Franke.
Of course, we also address the fears, questions and wishes of our patients and discuss the procedure, the appropriate form of anaesthesia and also necessary follow-up treatments and aftercare in detail.
In some cases, it may be useful to carry out an X-ray diagnosis before an operation, for example if it is suspected that the affected tooth is too close to a nerve and the removal of the tooth can therefore be carried out with special precautions and only with the most precise planning. Even in the case of a planned implantation after tooth removal, prior clarification is necessary.
In our practice, we use digital volume tomography (DVT) in such cases, which allows the most detailed image possible of the tooth, the tooth root and the neighbouring structures without any overlapping.
Digital volume tomography (DVT) is a modern, high-resolution X-ray procedure that enables the most accurate three-dimensional image of the head and face, including the jaws and sinuses, with only a low radiation exposure.
DVT can, for example, accurately determine the length and shape of the tooth root, but also the course of nerves. In this way, possible complications can be assessed and special circumstances can be taken into account so that a risk-minimised intervention can be carried out. For a subsequent implantation, DVT enables an exact assessment of the bone structure and also the exact planning of the implant.
The procedure itself is performed on an outpatient basis in our practice in Berlin Charlottenburg by Dr. med. Thomas Franke. It is important to us that the procedure is carried out in a pleasant atmosphere and we also take our patients’ existing fears very seriously.
The stunning
As a rule, we perform a local anaesthetic for this procedure, i.e. local pain elimination. The local anaesthetic is applied in such a way that the patient does not feel any pain during the subsequent treatment.
For anxious patients and in special cases, the procedure can also be performed in twilight sleep or under general anaesthesia. This will of course be discussed in detail in advance.
Tooth removal
As soon as the pain elimination works reliably, the gum is first detached from the tooth and the root is exposed. The tooth and its root are then extracted from the tooth socket and removed. Finally, if necessary, any remaining teeth are removed. Tooth removal is carried out as minimally invasive and as safely as possible.
Wound cleansing and wound suturing
The wound is then cleaned and any inflamed tissue removed. Finally, a fine seam seals the opening in the gum.
If a dental implantation is planned at the affected area, it can be carried out directly after the tooth extraction in most cases, which is very pleasant for many patients, as no further intervention is necessary for the implantation.
Of course, a desired implantation is taken into account accordingly in the previous diagnostics, planned in detail and discussed in detail with the patient.
As dental implants, we only use high-quality ceramic implants, which are completely free of metal and have a high quality, the best possible biocompatibility and also optimal aesthetics.
After the procedure, our patients still receive recommendations for strengthening the immune system in order to achieve the best possible healing and treatment results and also to get our patients back to full activity as quickly as possible.
To support wound healing, we also offer wound healing support with PRP on request. The Platelet Rich Plasma procedure is a special autologous blood therapy which accelerates wound healing and minimises the risk of osseous inflammation.
What happens afterwards and how does the healing process proceed after the tooth removal?
Immediately after the procedure we provide our patients with painkillers and recommend them to take it easy in the first 24 hours after the procedure. We also advise our patients to cool the cheek area after the procedure to reduce swelling and bruising.
For the first few days after an operation, patients should also eat only soft food to counteract inflammation. In addition, we recommend our patients to take an individually tailored medication regimen that supports the immune system and ensures better healing and treatment results.
After about 10 to 14 days, the stitches are removed in a control appointment. After three to five months, healing in the bone area is also completed.
Is the tooth removal painful?
While the tooth is being removed, our patients do not feel any pain, as we usually provide a local anaesthetic in advance to completely eliminate the pain.
After the treatment, slight to moderate pain can be expected for a few days, which can usually be kept at bay with painkillers. In addition, cooling of the cheek area also helps to reduce the pain here.