Tooth Extraction: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Sometimes a tooth is too damaged, decayed, or crowded to save. Severe decay, a deep crack, or infection can make removal the safest option. First, the area around the tooth is fully numbed for comfort. The dentist gently loosens the tooth from the ligament that holds it. Once it is loose, the tooth is carefully lifted out of the socket. This leaves an empty socket where the tooth used to be. A blood clot forms in the socket, and the area heals over the following days. Later, the gap can be filled with an implant, a bridge, or a denture. This video is for general education only. It is not medical or dental advice. Ask your dentist what's right for you.