Three Things To Know About Sectioning A Tooth To Remove It

When you visit your family dentist for the removal of your tooth, you might feel a little anxious about the procedure. Fortunately, the right combination of anesthetic and the calm and confident demeanor of your dentist will let you know that everything will turn out fine. In many tooth removal cases, the dentist is able to simply pull the tooth out. However, if it's not coming out with ease, a process called sectioning may be necessary. This procedure involves cutting the tooth into several pieces and removing them individually. Here are three things to know about sectioning during a tooth removal.

There's No Reason To Worry

The first thing that might be on your mind when your dentist explains the need to cut a tooth into multiple pieces might be concern — after all, this procedure doesn't sound overly pleasant. The good news is that you have nothing to worry about. The use of the anesthetic means that you won't feel any discomfort, and there's a chance that this procedure feels better than a standard extraction. For example, when your dentist pulls a tooth, you won't feel pain but you'll usually feel a strange sensation of pressure. When the dentist sections your tooth and removes it in small pieces, this feeling of pressure is diminished.

It May Take A Little Longer

You'll want to be patient when you're in the dentist's chair because sectioning a tooth before removing it takes a little longer than simply pulling it. Depending on how easy a tooth is to pull, a tooth extraction appointment can be very quick. This isn't likely to be the case for a sectioning appointment, however. Your dentist may make a few attempts to pull the tooth, and then decide that sectioning is necessary. He or she will carefully divide the tooth into pieces with a specialized tool, and these steps take time.

The Recovery Won't Be Different

People often worry about the recovery time that they'll face after different dental procedures, and this includes a tooth extraction. Even though a sectioning extraction is more involved, it won't lengthen your recovery time. Sectioning simply removes the tooth in individual pieces, rather than in one shot, so you'll still have the same size of socket left in your mouth. Your dentist will still recommend that you follow the standard self-care techniques as he or she would for a routine tooth extraction. 

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